They’ve read their history: if they can embed fascism deeply at every level of American government, business, and civic life, it will take generations to rip it out…
Trump et al. have spent their entire lives stealing from us and taking bribes from Russia, the Arab states. They are rich and don't give a SH!t about anyone else. The formula works for them. All of the MAGAT have their sick, little predilections that they need to feed. The rest is cover. Hitler was one sick dude and so were his brown shirt pals.
Ultra-conservatives have known for a long time that their ideas were and would always be extremely unpopular outside white oligarchic circles and would have to be imposed upon the country, since the electorate at large would never choose them in open elections.
The surge of white-supremacist christo-fascism in the US that we're seeing today is the fruit of efforts dating back to Fred Koch and the early days of the John Birch Society and consistently funded and amplified by Charles and the late David Koch and numerous other extremist ultra-conservative billionaires (Mercer, Scaife, and Olin, inter alia). Their strategy has long been to own politicians via "campaign contributions"; permeate the courts with far-right ideology by funding and supporting law schools that would churn out very conservative lawyers, some of whom would eventually attain judgeships; create and fund organizations such as the Federalist Society to promote the progress and visibility of sufficiently conservative young lawyers; create and fund "think tanks" to pollute the public square with ultra-conservative policy advocacy disguised as "research"; and funding and supporting certain universities and university departments to ensure the teaching flowed in a sufficiently conservative vein. Look no farther than the George Mason University Economics Department for a classic example.
The ideology stems directly from John Calhoun in antebellum South Carolina and flows through the work of James M. Buchanan, an ultra-conservative economist and professor at -- wait for it -- George Mason University. Buchanan provided the theoretical basis for libertarians' and then Republicans' dogma about the need to suppress democracy, eliminate taxes, all but eliminate government, etc. etc.
For full treatment of all this, read _Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right_, by Jane Mayer, and _Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America_, by Nancy MacLean. The former focuses more on the stealth-funding work from roughly the mid-20th century onward; the latter lays out the history of the oligarchic, anti-democratic thinking and the developing of an ostensibly legitimate intellectual basis for it via Buchanan's work.
It's no accident we're now seeing overtly fascist and hate-filled statements and policies, judicial decisions supported by tortured logic and bizarre interpretations of history and legal precedent to justify pre-determined outcomes, openly corrupt politicians and judges and justices, corporate profits at unprecedented levels, constraints and regulations on capitalism watered down or destroyed as fast as possible, and the separation between church and state completely ignored.
The far-right's goal has long been the permanent imposition of white-supremacist, oligarchic, theocratically-infused control on the country. They've made very deep inroads; TBD whether the electorate will wake up in time and in sufficient numbers to prevent the complete and irreversible takeover.
We have never had a democratic form of government which is a big part of the problem. Who gets on the ballot is determined by the party bosses. In 1943 three-term vice president Henry A. Wallace was replaced by Harry Truman on the ticket with FDR who was gravely ill. Early in 1945 when FDR died as expected, Truman became the president of the United States. We have the same taking place in recent years with the progressive Bernie Sanders kept off the presidential ballot in 2008, 2016, and 2020. It is a choice between two neoliberal candidates for the American people.
People are largely unaware as the school textbooks are heavily censored and many come out of Texas and the corporate media since the Reagan presidency has become very concentrated with single owners controlling all the media (print, radio, televison, streaming) in most markets. The Democratic Party has become shills for the Republican Party in support of the elite overclass.
Starting in 1947 with the anti-union Taft-Harley Act so the federal government encouraging the exporting of union jobs under Reagan and Clinton (with NAFTA) there is no one to support the workers and their families in government. So both parties compete at the corporate trough for campaign money and none of them represent the American working class.
With the elite overclass controlling all three branches of the government and the military and all the media, any hope is based on wishful thinking and ignores the current reality.
There is an error in this article. There was a court ruling and PA was required to draw new congressional districts as of the 2018 election. Our house delegation is now evenly divided: 9 Democrats and 9 Republicans. We also got 3 congresswomen in 2018: Chrissy Houlahan, Madeline Dean, Mary Gay Scanlon and Susan Wild
3. Use selective prosecution to punish those who speak out.
Well it isn't the Trump humpers who have monopolized this tactic.
Biden's DHS is still tracking progressives, and recently arrested protesters against Cop City being built in Atlanta, GA and they still expend resources on tracking progressive movements like antifa(scism)
On June 3, 2017, while employed by the military contractor Pluribus International Corporation, Reality Winner was arrested on suspicion of leaking an intelligence report about Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections from the National Security Agency (NSA) to the news website The Intercept. She was arrested and imprisoned by Trump, yet she is still in prison. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_Winner
Then there was this dude who leaded info about a National Security (GESTAPO) state, he was forced to find safety in Russia, but did America a huge favor by disclosing this top secret neo GESTAPO government.
Ironically the same situation with Julian Assange, when he leaked info about the National Security State and DHS, he was hailed as a hero by liberals, until he worked with Putin to release Hillary's emails.
Then he became anathema to liberals. And he did so why, because Hillary had been trying to extradite him to America when Secretary of State.
So we have a history of "liberals" chasing after and condoning the persecution of people who expose the national security state, in this way Democrats become enablers of their own enemies.
And we have the treacherous right winger Christopher Wray running the FBI, and Trump humpers running or embedded in vital cabinets from DHS, to NSA, DOD and Customs and Border Patrol.
Trump gave Biden a tool which he could use to purge these departments of these tools, but revoked EO 13957, which created Schedule F civil servants from political appointees, with the first EO he signed EO 14002
So do I understand that we are to do nothing about fascism because some more aggressive "Liberals" are being watched for their illegal activities??
You cant start or win a revolution until even the Democratic haters fall into place with one camp, either the Magats or the Progressives as blue Dems.
Make a choice or step out of the way. Your obvious support for anyone other than "Blue" pols will get you your friends a fascist dictatorship sooner than later.
I would welcome your ideas for change as a blue supporter but not as a destructive critic. Just make a choice please.
Where in creation did you come up with that conclusion. You need to go back and take remedial in reading comprehension.
Actually you vindicate my concern, I am very, very progressive, but out worst enemies are within the blue house. The centrists, the conservadems, the compromisers, they always cede to the fascists, because they want everyone to like them., hence bipartisanship. We need the same power within the Democratic party as the fascists have in the Republican party, but we aren't going to get there with a center right core, which iis what we have. They might as well be Republicans.
I have trouble with putting Assange and Snowden in the same category as Daniel Ellsberg. For one thing, Daniel Ellsberg was willing to go to trial. He didn’t hide in an embassy or run to Russia. Someone who runs to Russia, the country which poisons dissidents and currently has a WSJ reporter in jail-isn’t a champion for free speech. Also, there is a difference between exposing wrong doing and putting one’s thumb on the scale to hurt a political candidate
I never even mentioned Ellsberg, you drug him into the conversation.
Now if you refer to Julian Assange (putting his thumb on the scale to hurt Hillary)
Bear in mind, that he was a hero to the left, until he released Hilary's emails.
And why did he release Hillary's emails? He did so because Hillary as Secretary of State, pursued his extradition so he could get tried in America.
And why did she pursue his extradition, because she is part of the cabal, or rather was currying favor with them.
The homegrown fascists had, during Dubya's administration, used the attack of 9/11 as an excuse to pull out of the drawer the PATRIOT act, which was already written during the Clinton Administration, and kept in the safe until something would justify it.
The PATRIOT is a fascist wet dream, they were jubilant, and if Obama and Hillary were really Democrats, they would have killed it, but worse yet, when Hillary became Secretary of State, She doubled down and did the fascists bidding.
Maybe you are a fan of Hilllary, but I am not, she is not a progressive, just a self aggrandizing , self serving, opportunist. The wife of the man who created swing states, the rust belt, and was owned by international financial institutions and the Chamber of Commerce. I don't trust her, because of her track record and her apparent insincerity
And why do they call themselves a Chamber. In politics a Chamber is a word for a legislative body. For instance. Italy's Chamber of Deputies. In this case the Chamber of
Commerce is not officially a part of Congress, but through their bribes, they are.
I just wish you were better known. You educate that portion of the public that knows who you are and reads you. Unfortunately that leaves FAR too many who are more deluded & deceived than informed --which is exactly how the powers that be want it; and even if Chris Hedges was quoting someone else, it's still encouraging to be reminded, "I don't fight fascists because I'll win, I fight fascists because they're fascists." High schools would do well to teach seniors a course in your take on recent history.
Good to know more about Orban. Everyone should read this and 'the Power Worshippers' reg the Christian Nationalism that has already invaded all systems. Thanks again Thom H
There is a HUGE regulatory proceeding at SEC, everybody from kochs to state attorney s general to progressive organizations are contributing comments to this proposed rule.
With the exception of a few nyt articles buried somewhere - this federal regulatory proceed goes unnoticed by both the mainstream and lefty media.
It's not crazy to characterize this as the single most popular and significant us govt initiative on saving the planet and future for billions of people.
Put on msnbc if you want three stories about trump.
If this was in nyt every day and on nightly news many people would have a different perspective.
But nyt and tv, and even joe biden, project a very different message. Things are fairly normal, 2 political parties one is conservative, biden knows them and they are not all maga.
Smart, kind, fairly decent people are loath to vote for progressive democrats. My neighbors have "biden/Harris" sticker on their car, read nyt eagerly day, and do NOT support reform of Supreme Court. It's absurd.
Biden gets a big win for debt ceiling fight in which forces of neoliberalism prevail, human safety net reduced, and good results for pipelines.
When enough people see neoliberalism as the main villain, when there's a young energetic candidate against it that becomes popular, when there's big broad support to reject products of, and boycott companies based on their political activities and donations, things may change.
We have pride month and we have Juneteenth but as we rewrite constitution we lose the 14th amendment and entire legacy of Lincoln.
The idea of Bernie / progressives "taking over the Democratic Party" wasn't as easy as it sounded. We need to consider third party strategies.
I am saying we are talking to the converted. There's too many people out there who came originally from normal land and who are developing this kind of "I don't like the extreme left mentality." There's too many of those people who are caught in narratives and aren't even exposed to most of the real information.
We are small in number engaging in academic exercises here, we need to focus more on works for masses. ESG for example.
Thanks for that. Internet communications are so vexxing.
ESG is Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG), also known as environmental, social, governance, is a business framework for considering environmental issues and social issues in the context of corporate governance.
We already have that, neo fascism. Corporate governance, through, bribes (campaign donations), ownership of congress of executive, and the goal and purpose of corporate governing (profits) is diametrically opposed to Environmental and social needs.
Oil and water don't mix, unless you add an emulsifier, and that emulsifier is government.
In America that emulsifier has been a mixed economy, called Democracy. However to paraphrase MLK, the arc of Democracy bends towards fascism. (bigotry, racism, religious extremism in obeisance to the needs and wishes of the plutocrats.
It seems that humanity has a very low tolerance for diversity of any kind and is comfortable with extremes or no opposition. Be it race, religion or class.
In fascist countries, like Russia and China, that emulsifier is the authoritarian, one party, government
That's why this country and world is in such deep shit: Corporate governance.
The only chance of salvation is to take money out of politics, reverse the damage done from Madison v Marbury, to Santa Clara v Southern Pacific, Buckley v Velao and of course Citizens united, and the only way to do that is to cleanse SCOTUS of the six cockroaches. but we need a congress and executive, that not only has the power, but the guts. Lots of luck.
We can say whatever cynical (or historical) things we want in our forums, while the question of politics comes down to what will appeal to millennials.
Supposedly 70 plus percent of them want esg. This article says
About one-third of millennials often or exclusively use investments that take ESG factors into account, compared with 19% of Gen Z, 16% of Gen X and 2% of baby boomers, according to the poll.
You see ESG as a good thing, however you overlook the G part of ESG, governance, and thus millenials in their blind aspirations are actually enabling that which they propose.
Clever marketing by the plutocrats. Suck in the idealistic.
The whole ESG scheme works, when and if, millenials can find an honest person, one with the defects of previous presidents to run for and be elected to office, legislative an executive, starting with the red states,
It may not take generations to rip it out. Given a MAGAT fascist state will likely persist in the climate degradation, it will destroy the planet diversity and itself. I guess, I wouldn't be surprised that humanity was a failed experiment.
New ideas can help stem the tide of fascism. The so-called progressive left needs to save money and be more humane to the poor at the same time. The criminals in our prison system and the homeless and the impoverished, need a new system. Today in Phoenix Arizona, a suspect shot a police officer and went on a wild car chase, ending up with him being shot. The prison system does not work. Self- supporting penal colonies for life need to be pushed by the left, in order to save money and be more humane, by segregating the prisoners into their races and the crimes. They can either all get along or kill each other, it will be their decision. Flogging minor criminals the first 10 times would also be a lot cheaper and make the rich think twice also. Especially for lying. Self supporting work farms are also needed for the homeless, which would be good for the cities and the businessman. The purpose of government is to keep the peasants civilized, while the merchants prosper. It has been quite a while since either party have even attempted to fix any social problems. It is as if the left is not being represented? Whoever Bidens advisors are, they certainly don't seem progressive. The Democratic candidate for president needs to invent solutions, not throw their hands up in despair, and not use the bully pulpit. When the right wing fascist get control of the military and police departments, it will be too late. The fascists intentions are just to steal as much money as possible and have lifetime job security, while torturing those they do not like. For telling them what they do not want to hear, even though it is the truth. If America had plenty of oil or was still the largest manufacturer on Earth, the fascists could go on for possibly 10 decades in my opinion, but with a 30 trillion dollar debt and the thieves in charge, America will be lucky to last 10 years. With each year getting progressively worse for the poor, which will be over 150 million Americans in my opinion. Our current allies will not help us, because the fascist will have weakened NATO dramatically. And they don't like fascists.
So much to unpack Bob. You said" The so-called progressive left needs to save money and be more humane to the poor at the same time." Where is the left inhumane to the poor. You need to watch Democracy Now on Freespeech TV (it is carried by Dish and Direct TV) and some cable.
Are you saying that progressives are so caught up in selfishness and greed that they don't help the poor?
And as regards corporal punishment. History has shown that that doesn't work. The Kings and Queens of England, hung, drew and quartered traitors, publicly, as a deterrent to challenging the crown, And that didn't work either, from William Wallace to Hugh Despencer the younger.
In fact even in America, British governors were hanging, drawing and quartering people.
Perhaps not the last, but as I recall reading, Governor Tryon of N.C. had Abraham Merrill and a few others who were leaders of the Regulators ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulator_Movement )
penal colonies, aka plantations, don't work either. Oliver Cromwell shipped 50,000 Irish to the colonies, after slaughtering 680,000 and the crown continued the practice, hence Australia and New Zealand, and America.
Frances penal colony of Devil's Island, is not what a civilized society would do, something you would expect from Saudi Arabia.
There are people who become criminals out of desperation, as there is no other way to earn a decent living, and there are some people who are just born that way.
Take Ted Bundy, he was adopted by a loving couple, in Tacoma, WA near the University of Puget Sound. One night he snuck out of his bedroom window, a lad of his age, 8 if I recall, was seen doing something in a construction ditch near the University. There was soon a major community search for a young girl, she was never found.
There are people born sociopaths, pychopaths, criminals and like the plutocrats addicted to money, they are addicted tomurder, rape and or theft.
The best way to deal with all the criminals is to make sure all their needs were met as children growing up. The family unit fails miserably. If we really wanted to end human suffering and crime, religious hatred, racism, childhood poverty, all mental, physical and sexual abuse, most mental illness.... We would raise all of the children in Kibutzes. But apparently most people on earth oppose that idea, so that means to me that they enjoy drama, stress, suffering and anxiety. They don't really care about their child's future just about their needs being met. If it is genetic, there is no hope for the human race. If it is environmental, we could raise all the children where all their needs are met in communes that have many toys and playing fields indoors and outdoors where adults are paired off in threes with cameras and microphones everywhere to ensure there is no child abuse. The first nine months in the womb is the most important for a fetus, then baby. Too much stress and anxiety and cortisol causes the fetus's brain to evolve differently. In my humble opinion, I think that the babies can be raised up to think instinctually and emotionally, but not rationally like a human. Anyone who believes in the supernatural is unfit to vote. Also anyone with a 135 IQ in my opinion is unfit to vote and that might include me, but that is okay with me, because, like Plato I want the philosopher Kings to rule, not the San Quentin prison crowd rule. But getting back to flogging and self supporting penal colonies. Flogging did stop a lot of bearing false witness and Petty thefts. Where is the point of self-sustaining penal colonies for life is to get the crazies out of our hair. I don't know if we have enough money to lock them up in mental institutions. That would probably cost about $60,000 a piece a year. Of course I would support locking them up and taking care of them as would all progressives, but currently, the right wingers have gave us about a 35 trillion dollar national debt. Bear failed policies of free trade, immigration, trickle down, capitalist healthcare, offshore banking, unfunded wars, corporate welfare, bank bailouts, interest on the national debt, no taxation of churches, have cost the middle class about 100 trillion dollars or more in my opinion. The Republican plan will probably be to bulldoze them and throw them all into the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic.
Think about the philosopher king ruling idea. With DJT you got one, just not the philosophy that you and I have. You may get your Philosopher King, but just not the philosophy you are hoping for.
As regards childhood development. While my first inclination is to agree. I have to point out my own family. Myself and two sisters were raised in a project, by a single mother, who acted out her frustrations and anger, on us kids,, she worked in a bank for $1 an hour and was totally absorbed in her own woes and self pity, to the exclusion of us kids.
Yet we three grew up fine, or at least as well as can be in this world. I'm a retired "mustang" (enlisted to officer) have an MBA, my son and his daughter have PhD's.
I could never be a millionaire, because I have morals (not Christian morals, but a sense of right and wrong and a conscience, none of which I picked up from my mother, who was essentially absent, except she made me fight my own battles, would not coddle me, and had me perform household chores, and woe if I didn't.
In case you didn't know it, there is a genetic component to our makeup, not just physical, but
in our character and personality, as well as a cultural. It is nature and culture, not or.
You may not want a 135 IQ, so you got a 90 IQ DJT. He may not be your idea of a philosopher king, but he is one for about 74 million voters.
By the way as a fetus, my father was a US Marine, a private who married without his commanders permission (1938) so my mother, pregnant with me, had to live on what was left after my Dad's pay of $30 a month, in a rented room eating left over meals, and using one sheet of toilet paper while carrying me, she was malnourished and lost two teeth, and other nutrients because a fetus is like a parasite, it takes what it needs from the host, leaving the host to make up the difference, in her case she had no way to replenish, not on cold mashed potatoes.
Yet I have or had, a 138 IQ, but don't sweat it I have had no desire to be president. Too much responsibility and still you aren't your own boss, you may be able to threaten and fire or ruin people, but there is a cabal of plutocrats that you answer to and without their support you are nothing.
I also have a conscience and that means that I am no good at selling unsought goods, or to deceive and defraud people, and that makes me bad at business and politics.
I had friends, fraternal twins, Jack and Jerry. Jerry had a high IQ and chose a career path of being a criminal, and wound up behind bars at Holmesburg State Prison. his 90 IQ brother Jack, got married and made a career as a printer. Dad was an unemployed alcoholic who bragged constantly about his days running with criminals.Jerry with the high IQ chose a career in crime, Jack with the low IQ the opposite. So what happened in the womb, for the two to turn out so differently?
In the orthodox Jewish culture, the Talmud and the law of return in Israel. A person born of a Jewish mother is a Jew, apparently the reasoning is that their identity is inculcated in the womb, by the mother.
Apparently this is what you believe. The fetus is not affected by the noise that it hears, or the motion it feels. It is isolated, and the brain has not yet developed enough to record or be affected by noise. What it grows up to be is determined by biological and cultural "DNA"
Trump et al. have spent their entire lives stealing from us and taking bribes from Russia, the Arab states. They are rich and don't give a SH!t about anyone else. The formula works for them. All of the MAGAT have their sick, little predilections that they need to feed. The rest is cover. Hitler was one sick dude and so were his brown shirt pals.
I believe that the largest tool they have is the Supreme Court and the ruling of Citizens United.
Ultra-conservatives have known for a long time that their ideas were and would always be extremely unpopular outside white oligarchic circles and would have to be imposed upon the country, since the electorate at large would never choose them in open elections.
The surge of white-supremacist christo-fascism in the US that we're seeing today is the fruit of efforts dating back to Fred Koch and the early days of the John Birch Society and consistently funded and amplified by Charles and the late David Koch and numerous other extremist ultra-conservative billionaires (Mercer, Scaife, and Olin, inter alia). Their strategy has long been to own politicians via "campaign contributions"; permeate the courts with far-right ideology by funding and supporting law schools that would churn out very conservative lawyers, some of whom would eventually attain judgeships; create and fund organizations such as the Federalist Society to promote the progress and visibility of sufficiently conservative young lawyers; create and fund "think tanks" to pollute the public square with ultra-conservative policy advocacy disguised as "research"; and funding and supporting certain universities and university departments to ensure the teaching flowed in a sufficiently conservative vein. Look no farther than the George Mason University Economics Department for a classic example.
The ideology stems directly from John Calhoun in antebellum South Carolina and flows through the work of James M. Buchanan, an ultra-conservative economist and professor at -- wait for it -- George Mason University. Buchanan provided the theoretical basis for libertarians' and then Republicans' dogma about the need to suppress democracy, eliminate taxes, all but eliminate government, etc. etc.
For full treatment of all this, read _Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right_, by Jane Mayer, and _Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America_, by Nancy MacLean. The former focuses more on the stealth-funding work from roughly the mid-20th century onward; the latter lays out the history of the oligarchic, anti-democratic thinking and the developing of an ostensibly legitimate intellectual basis for it via Buchanan's work.
It's no accident we're now seeing overtly fascist and hate-filled statements and policies, judicial decisions supported by tortured logic and bizarre interpretations of history and legal precedent to justify pre-determined outcomes, openly corrupt politicians and judges and justices, corporate profits at unprecedented levels, constraints and regulations on capitalism watered down or destroyed as fast as possible, and the separation between church and state completely ignored.
The far-right's goal has long been the permanent imposition of white-supremacist, oligarchic, theocratically-infused control on the country. They've made very deep inroads; TBD whether the electorate will wake up in time and in sufficient numbers to prevent the complete and irreversible takeover.
We have never had a democratic form of government which is a big part of the problem. Who gets on the ballot is determined by the party bosses. In 1943 three-term vice president Henry A. Wallace was replaced by Harry Truman on the ticket with FDR who was gravely ill. Early in 1945 when FDR died as expected, Truman became the president of the United States. We have the same taking place in recent years with the progressive Bernie Sanders kept off the presidential ballot in 2008, 2016, and 2020. It is a choice between two neoliberal candidates for the American people.
People are largely unaware as the school textbooks are heavily censored and many come out of Texas and the corporate media since the Reagan presidency has become very concentrated with single owners controlling all the media (print, radio, televison, streaming) in most markets. The Democratic Party has become shills for the Republican Party in support of the elite overclass.
Starting in 1947 with the anti-union Taft-Harley Act so the federal government encouraging the exporting of union jobs under Reagan and Clinton (with NAFTA) there is no one to support the workers and their families in government. So both parties compete at the corporate trough for campaign money and none of them represent the American working class.
With the elite overclass controlling all three branches of the government and the military and all the media, any hope is based on wishful thinking and ignores the current reality.
America used to denounce Fascism, now parts of her want to embrace it. Under which form of gov't will the US celebrate her 250th birthday in '26?
It’s up to us. This can help.
https://www.amazon.com/Saving-Democracy-Users-Manual-American/dp/1662938217/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=10S3OFR2SSMJD&keywords=saving+democracy+pepper&qid=1687190640&sprefix=saving+demo%2Caps%2C104&sr=8-1
There is an error in this article. There was a court ruling and PA was required to draw new congressional districts as of the 2018 election. Our house delegation is now evenly divided: 9 Democrats and 9 Republicans. We also got 3 congresswomen in 2018: Chrissy Houlahan, Madeline Dean, Mary Gay Scanlon and Susan Wild
Sorry 4
3. Use selective prosecution to punish those who speak out.
Well it isn't the Trump humpers who have monopolized this tactic.
Biden's DHS is still tracking progressives, and recently arrested protesters against Cop City being built in Atlanta, GA and they still expend resources on tracking progressive movements like antifa(scism)
On June 3, 2017, while employed by the military contractor Pluribus International Corporation, Reality Winner was arrested on suspicion of leaking an intelligence report about Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections from the National Security Agency (NSA) to the news website The Intercept. She was arrested and imprisoned by Trump, yet she is still in prison. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_Winner
Then there was this dude who leaded info about a National Security (GESTAPO) state, he was forced to find safety in Russia, but did America a huge favor by disclosing this top secret neo GESTAPO government.
Ironically the same situation with Julian Assange, when he leaked info about the National Security State and DHS, he was hailed as a hero by liberals, until he worked with Putin to release Hillary's emails.
Then he became anathema to liberals. And he did so why, because Hillary had been trying to extradite him to America when Secretary of State.
So we have a history of "liberals" chasing after and condoning the persecution of people who expose the national security state, in this way Democrats become enablers of their own enemies.
And we have the treacherous right winger Christopher Wray running the FBI, and Trump humpers running or embedded in vital cabinets from DHS, to NSA, DOD and Customs and Border Patrol.
Trump gave Biden a tool which he could use to purge these departments of these tools, but revoked EO 13957, which created Schedule F civil servants from political appointees, with the first EO he signed EO 14002
So do I understand that we are to do nothing about fascism because some more aggressive "Liberals" are being watched for their illegal activities??
You cant start or win a revolution until even the Democratic haters fall into place with one camp, either the Magats or the Progressives as blue Dems.
Make a choice or step out of the way. Your obvious support for anyone other than "Blue" pols will get you your friends a fascist dictatorship sooner than later.
I would welcome your ideas for change as a blue supporter but not as a destructive critic. Just make a choice please.
Where in creation did you come up with that conclusion. You need to go back and take remedial in reading comprehension.
Actually you vindicate my concern, I am very, very progressive, but out worst enemies are within the blue house. The centrists, the conservadems, the compromisers, they always cede to the fascists, because they want everyone to like them., hence bipartisanship. We need the same power within the Democratic party as the fascists have in the Republican party, but we aren't going to get there with a center right core, which iis what we have. They might as well be Republicans.
I have trouble with putting Assange and Snowden in the same category as Daniel Ellsberg. For one thing, Daniel Ellsberg was willing to go to trial. He didn’t hide in an embassy or run to Russia. Someone who runs to Russia, the country which poisons dissidents and currently has a WSJ reporter in jail-isn’t a champion for free speech. Also, there is a difference between exposing wrong doing and putting one’s thumb on the scale to hurt a political candidate
I never even mentioned Ellsberg, you drug him into the conversation.
Now if you refer to Julian Assange (putting his thumb on the scale to hurt Hillary)
Bear in mind, that he was a hero to the left, until he released Hilary's emails.
And why did he release Hillary's emails? He did so because Hillary as Secretary of State, pursued his extradition so he could get tried in America.
And why did she pursue his extradition, because she is part of the cabal, or rather was currying favor with them.
The homegrown fascists had, during Dubya's administration, used the attack of 9/11 as an excuse to pull out of the drawer the PATRIOT act, which was already written during the Clinton Administration, and kept in the safe until something would justify it.
The PATRIOT is a fascist wet dream, they were jubilant, and if Obama and Hillary were really Democrats, they would have killed it, but worse yet, when Hillary became Secretary of State, She doubled down and did the fascists bidding.
Maybe you are a fan of Hilllary, but I am not, she is not a progressive, just a self aggrandizing , self serving, opportunist. The wife of the man who created swing states, the rust belt, and was owned by international financial institutions and the Chamber of Commerce. I don't trust her, because of her track record and her apparent insincerity
And why do they call themselves a Chamber. In politics a Chamber is a word for a legislative body. For instance. Italy's Chamber of Deputies. In this case the Chamber of
Commerce is not officially a part of Congress, but through their bribes, they are.
I just wish you were better known. You educate that portion of the public that knows who you are and reads you. Unfortunately that leaves FAR too many who are more deluded & deceived than informed --which is exactly how the powers that be want it; and even if Chris Hedges was quoting someone else, it's still encouraging to be reminded, "I don't fight fascists because I'll win, I fight fascists because they're fascists." High schools would do well to teach seniors a course in your take on recent history.
Good to know more about Orban. Everyone should read this and 'the Power Worshippers' reg the Christian Nationalism that has already invaded all systems. Thanks again Thom H
There is a HUGE regulatory proceeding at SEC, everybody from kochs to state attorney s general to progressive organizations are contributing comments to this proposed rule.
With the exception of a few nyt articles buried somewhere - this federal regulatory proceed goes unnoticed by both the mainstream and lefty media.
It's not crazy to characterize this as the single most popular and significant us govt initiative on saving the planet and future for billions of people.
Put on msnbc if you want three stories about trump.
https://www.sec.gov/sec-response-climate-and-esg-risks-and-opportunities
If this was in nyt every day and on nightly news many people would have a different perspective.
But nyt and tv, and even joe biden, project a very different message. Things are fairly normal, 2 political parties one is conservative, biden knows them and they are not all maga.
Smart, kind, fairly decent people are loath to vote for progressive democrats. My neighbors have "biden/Harris" sticker on their car, read nyt eagerly day, and do NOT support reform of Supreme Court. It's absurd.
Biden gets a big win for debt ceiling fight in which forces of neoliberalism prevail, human safety net reduced, and good results for pipelines.
When enough people see neoliberalism as the main villain, when there's a young energetic candidate against it that becomes popular, when there's big broad support to reject products of, and boycott companies based on their political activities and donations, things may change.
We have pride month and we have Juneteenth but as we rewrite constitution we lose the 14th amendment and entire legacy of Lincoln.
The idea of Bernie / progressives "taking over the Democratic Party" wasn't as easy as it sounded. We need to consider third party strategies.
Marc said: "Smart, kind, fairly decent people are loath to vote for progressive democrats."
Sounds to me like you are equating progressive Democrats, to Trump humping fascists.
Tell me it isn't so, that you are not condemning progressive Democrats. If so then why.
I am saying we are talking to the converted. There's too many people out there who came originally from normal land and who are developing this kind of "I don't like the extreme left mentality." There's too many of those people who are caught in narratives and aren't even exposed to most of the real information.
We are small in number engaging in academic exercises here, we need to focus more on works for masses. ESG for example.
Thanks for that. Internet communications are so vexxing.
ESG is Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG), also known as environmental, social, governance, is a business framework for considering environmental issues and social issues in the context of corporate governance.
We already have that, neo fascism. Corporate governance, through, bribes (campaign donations), ownership of congress of executive, and the goal and purpose of corporate governing (profits) is diametrically opposed to Environmental and social needs.
Oil and water don't mix, unless you add an emulsifier, and that emulsifier is government.
In America that emulsifier has been a mixed economy, called Democracy. However to paraphrase MLK, the arc of Democracy bends towards fascism. (bigotry, racism, religious extremism in obeisance to the needs and wishes of the plutocrats.
It seems that humanity has a very low tolerance for diversity of any kind and is comfortable with extremes or no opposition. Be it race, religion or class.
In fascist countries, like Russia and China, that emulsifier is the authoritarian, one party, government
That's why this country and world is in such deep shit: Corporate governance.
The only chance of salvation is to take money out of politics, reverse the damage done from Madison v Marbury, to Santa Clara v Southern Pacific, Buckley v Velao and of course Citizens united, and the only way to do that is to cleanse SCOTUS of the six cockroaches. but we need a congress and executive, that not only has the power, but the guts. Lots of luck.
We can say whatever cynical (or historical) things we want in our forums, while the question of politics comes down to what will appeal to millennials.
Supposedly 70 plus percent of them want esg. This article says
About one-third of millennials often or exclusively use investments that take ESG factors into account, compared with 19% of Gen Z, 16% of Gen X and 2% of baby boomers, according to the poll.
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/21/millennials-spurred-growth-in-esg-investing-now-all-ages-are-on-board.html
You see ESG as a good thing, however you overlook the G part of ESG, governance, and thus millenials in their blind aspirations are actually enabling that which they propose.
Clever marketing by the plutocrats. Suck in the idealistic.
The whole ESG scheme works, when and if, millenials can find an honest person, one with the defects of previous presidents to run for and be elected to office, legislative an executive, starting with the red states,
As I have stated and written, recently I am locked and primed for the upcoming battle for our very existence.
It may not take generations to rip it out. Given a MAGAT fascist state will likely persist in the climate degradation, it will destroy the planet diversity and itself. I guess, I wouldn't be surprised that humanity was a failed experiment.
New ideas can help stem the tide of fascism. The so-called progressive left needs to save money and be more humane to the poor at the same time. The criminals in our prison system and the homeless and the impoverished, need a new system. Today in Phoenix Arizona, a suspect shot a police officer and went on a wild car chase, ending up with him being shot. The prison system does not work. Self- supporting penal colonies for life need to be pushed by the left, in order to save money and be more humane, by segregating the prisoners into their races and the crimes. They can either all get along or kill each other, it will be their decision. Flogging minor criminals the first 10 times would also be a lot cheaper and make the rich think twice also. Especially for lying. Self supporting work farms are also needed for the homeless, which would be good for the cities and the businessman. The purpose of government is to keep the peasants civilized, while the merchants prosper. It has been quite a while since either party have even attempted to fix any social problems. It is as if the left is not being represented? Whoever Bidens advisors are, they certainly don't seem progressive. The Democratic candidate for president needs to invent solutions, not throw their hands up in despair, and not use the bully pulpit. When the right wing fascist get control of the military and police departments, it will be too late. The fascists intentions are just to steal as much money as possible and have lifetime job security, while torturing those they do not like. For telling them what they do not want to hear, even though it is the truth. If America had plenty of oil or was still the largest manufacturer on Earth, the fascists could go on for possibly 10 decades in my opinion, but with a 30 trillion dollar debt and the thieves in charge, America will be lucky to last 10 years. With each year getting progressively worse for the poor, which will be over 150 million Americans in my opinion. Our current allies will not help us, because the fascist will have weakened NATO dramatically. And they don't like fascists.
So much to unpack Bob. You said" The so-called progressive left needs to save money and be more humane to the poor at the same time." Where is the left inhumane to the poor. You need to watch Democracy Now on Freespeech TV (it is carried by Dish and Direct TV) and some cable.
Are you saying that progressives are so caught up in selfishness and greed that they don't help the poor?
And as regards corporal punishment. History has shown that that doesn't work. The Kings and Queens of England, hung, drew and quartered traitors, publicly, as a deterrent to challenging the crown, And that didn't work either, from William Wallace to Hugh Despencer the younger.
In fact even in America, British governors were hanging, drawing and quartering people.
Perhaps not the last, but as I recall reading, Governor Tryon of N.C. had Abraham Merrill and a few others who were leaders of the Regulators ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulator_Movement )
penal colonies, aka plantations, don't work either. Oliver Cromwell shipped 50,000 Irish to the colonies, after slaughtering 680,000 and the crown continued the practice, hence Australia and New Zealand, and America.
Frances penal colony of Devil's Island, is not what a civilized society would do, something you would expect from Saudi Arabia.
There are people who become criminals out of desperation, as there is no other way to earn a decent living, and there are some people who are just born that way.
Take Ted Bundy, he was adopted by a loving couple, in Tacoma, WA near the University of Puget Sound. One night he snuck out of his bedroom window, a lad of his age, 8 if I recall, was seen doing something in a construction ditch near the University. There was soon a major community search for a young girl, she was never found.
There are people born sociopaths, pychopaths, criminals and like the plutocrats addicted to money, they are addicted tomurder, rape and or theft.
The best way to deal with all the criminals is to make sure all their needs were met as children growing up. The family unit fails miserably. If we really wanted to end human suffering and crime, religious hatred, racism, childhood poverty, all mental, physical and sexual abuse, most mental illness.... We would raise all of the children in Kibutzes. But apparently most people on earth oppose that idea, so that means to me that they enjoy drama, stress, suffering and anxiety. They don't really care about their child's future just about their needs being met. If it is genetic, there is no hope for the human race. If it is environmental, we could raise all the children where all their needs are met in communes that have many toys and playing fields indoors and outdoors where adults are paired off in threes with cameras and microphones everywhere to ensure there is no child abuse. The first nine months in the womb is the most important for a fetus, then baby. Too much stress and anxiety and cortisol causes the fetus's brain to evolve differently. In my humble opinion, I think that the babies can be raised up to think instinctually and emotionally, but not rationally like a human. Anyone who believes in the supernatural is unfit to vote. Also anyone with a 135 IQ in my opinion is unfit to vote and that might include me, but that is okay with me, because, like Plato I want the philosopher Kings to rule, not the San Quentin prison crowd rule. But getting back to flogging and self supporting penal colonies. Flogging did stop a lot of bearing false witness and Petty thefts. Where is the point of self-sustaining penal colonies for life is to get the crazies out of our hair. I don't know if we have enough money to lock them up in mental institutions. That would probably cost about $60,000 a piece a year. Of course I would support locking them up and taking care of them as would all progressives, but currently, the right wingers have gave us about a 35 trillion dollar national debt. Bear failed policies of free trade, immigration, trickle down, capitalist healthcare, offshore banking, unfunded wars, corporate welfare, bank bailouts, interest on the national debt, no taxation of churches, have cost the middle class about 100 trillion dollars or more in my opinion. The Republican plan will probably be to bulldoze them and throw them all into the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic.
Think about the philosopher king ruling idea. With DJT you got one, just not the philosophy that you and I have. You may get your Philosopher King, but just not the philosophy you are hoping for.
As regards childhood development. While my first inclination is to agree. I have to point out my own family. Myself and two sisters were raised in a project, by a single mother, who acted out her frustrations and anger, on us kids,, she worked in a bank for $1 an hour and was totally absorbed in her own woes and self pity, to the exclusion of us kids.
Yet we three grew up fine, or at least as well as can be in this world. I'm a retired "mustang" (enlisted to officer) have an MBA, my son and his daughter have PhD's.
I could never be a millionaire, because I have morals (not Christian morals, but a sense of right and wrong and a conscience, none of which I picked up from my mother, who was essentially absent, except she made me fight my own battles, would not coddle me, and had me perform household chores, and woe if I didn't.
In case you didn't know it, there is a genetic component to our makeup, not just physical, but
in our character and personality, as well as a cultural. It is nature and culture, not or.
You may not want a 135 IQ, so you got a 90 IQ DJT. He may not be your idea of a philosopher king, but he is one for about 74 million voters.
By the way as a fetus, my father was a US Marine, a private who married without his commanders permission (1938) so my mother, pregnant with me, had to live on what was left after my Dad's pay of $30 a month, in a rented room eating left over meals, and using one sheet of toilet paper while carrying me, she was malnourished and lost two teeth, and other nutrients because a fetus is like a parasite, it takes what it needs from the host, leaving the host to make up the difference, in her case she had no way to replenish, not on cold mashed potatoes.
Yet I have or had, a 138 IQ, but don't sweat it I have had no desire to be president. Too much responsibility and still you aren't your own boss, you may be able to threaten and fire or ruin people, but there is a cabal of plutocrats that you answer to and without their support you are nothing.
I also have a conscience and that means that I am no good at selling unsought goods, or to deceive and defraud people, and that makes me bad at business and politics.
I had friends, fraternal twins, Jack and Jerry. Jerry had a high IQ and chose a career path of being a criminal, and wound up behind bars at Holmesburg State Prison. his 90 IQ brother Jack, got married and made a career as a printer. Dad was an unemployed alcoholic who bragged constantly about his days running with criminals.Jerry with the high IQ chose a career in crime, Jack with the low IQ the opposite. So what happened in the womb, for the two to turn out so differently?
In the orthodox Jewish culture, the Talmud and the law of return in Israel. A person born of a Jewish mother is a Jew, apparently the reasoning is that their identity is inculcated in the womb, by the mother.
Apparently this is what you believe. The fetus is not affected by the noise that it hears, or the motion it feels. It is isolated, and the brain has not yet developed enough to record or be affected by noise. What it grows up to be is determined by biological and cultural "DNA"