MAGA has been gunning for a civil war for nearly a decade. Every time Fox or a Trump supporter urges an ‘emergency’ declaration, it’s an excuse to deploy the military into a democratic-run area. It will be a manufactured war, manufactured (or amplified) civil unrest, bird flu, wildfire, flooding, you name it, Trump will find a vehicle for imposing martial law in blue cities and states.
Violence is coming, and Dems and moderates need to get ready for it. (Get to know your neighbors. Exchange phone and email addresses. Call a neighborhood meeting to talk about known plans for ‘immigrant raids’ or whatever insanity trump comes up with next. Do it now.)
By all early evidence, Trump is setting up J6 2.0, only he won’t wait until 2028 to do it. He’s keenly aware his time is limited, so I expect him to focus on how to extend his time in office.
Jumping ahead, I hope we learned something from Reconstruction last time: don’t forgive the south’s war debt, and don’t let insurrectionists hold office ever again. The 14th A was revised, then revised again to let insurrectionists back at the table, which appears to have been a mistake.
The how did the Republicans pull off their steal the vote scheme answer is, 1. The Russians are bragging about it, 2. In essence Trump and Musk also admitted it.
Granted, easy to prove to a jury, but first one must compile the evidence, and the file charges or a law suit. No one did that and the three states had Democratic Governors and Secretaries of State, so WTF is going on, and then Kamala couldn't hardly wait to concede, she breathlessly conceded at 4 PM on Nov 6 when the vote counting had just begun.
yeh easy to prove to a jury, but the persons affected either didn't give a shit or threw in the towel, and our freedoms, hard earned rights and democracy with it.
Now she has created an LLC, Pioneer49, Pioneer was her secret service call sign and she was the 49th VP of the United States.
I watch the unfolding of the assault on our Federal system. While most look at the carnage, I see the impact on the Treasury. The Executive is making way for a tax cut for the wealthy and corporations. That is what I see. Money being laid up to be stolen.
The confirmation of Hegseth indicates the gamesmanship in the Senate is at a high level. The max number of no votes was 3 to get Hegseth confirmed. It is magic. Drama. Clearly there is a lack of empathy and caring that is so prevalent with Republican Senators. Focused on our service members, their lack of empathy and caring shows they suffer psychopathy. Their support of their neo-fascist leader makes them all neo-fascists.
Do you need any other proof that we face an army of psychopathic neo-fascists (PNFs)? I appreciate those that do not like the name and will not support it; however, the name is deadly accurate. Odd words like misogyny and xenophobia are fine, but psychopathic neo-fascist is not fine? Fine! But I beg to differ. Psychopathic neo-fascist is their specific medical malady and political ideology! So give me a break. Enough with inaccurate labels. Knowing exactly who and what they are is critical to knowing their tactics and how to fight them. “Know thy enemy” is a phrase that comes from the ancient Chinese general Sun Tzu's The Art of War. The full quote is, “Know thy enemy and know thyself; in a hundred battles, you will never be defeated.” I suggest we learn the term, psychopathic neo-fascist, because that is exactly who we fight. We must raise, rouse, and rile our army to fight ONE demon, not ONE HUNDRED.
While there is a lack of empathy and caring Carl. The real problem is the three C's
Cowardliness, corruption, complicity, In the case of Hegseths approval it is the cowardliness of Joni Ernst. A retired Lt Col who was a victim of sexual assault, and she voted to approve Hegseth because Trump threatened to primary her.
McConnell, Murkowski and Collins are not worried about being primaried. This is the last term for McConnell and Collins,and Murkowski is an independent, so no badge of courage there.
There was one clear vote against Hegseth, Joni Ernst, a retired officer who had been the victim of sexual assault, then she got a call from Trump that he would primary her and she caved. Our politicians are craven cowards. I think Murkowski and Collins are not going to run for re election anyway so they suddently found a spine.
Politicians are invertebrates. Politics is just another route to wealth.
Last night, Alexandra O'casio Cortez freely admitted on John Stewart that her fellow Democratic congresspeople overwhelmingly engage in insider trading when the information is available in committees and run to their phones to call their financial advisors. I say term limits must be enacted so elected officials don't have time to cozy up to those who provide the riches.
AOC also lambasted the Republicans for the Laken Riley act, but nary a word about the 46 House Democrats and 12 Senate Democrats that voted for the act.
Oh half of Congress, or more, are millionaires, yet the salary is only $174,000 a year, and of that they have to maintain two residences/households, entertain, wine-dine, attend black tie functions, and keep up, very experience, appearances.
This stench is not the sweetness of a rose, but rather that of raw sewage emanating from the Mall. Perhaps when you get over your cold, you will get a whiff. We have an army to raise, rouse, and rile, and think that serious thought to that end is in order.
"Getting rid of FEMA" isn't just about taking away or selectively allocating finances during national emergencies - it's about destroying an entire agency that serves as a meticulously coordinated response apparatus capable of managing nearly any plausible scenario.
I'd encourage people to read up - from the official FEMA website - on what they do and how they do it.
As for Donald J-six Trump threatening Canada with "a good time", I'd look to Canadian punk rock behemoth "Propagandhi" - and lyrics - for a general idea about how our neighbors to the north might be feeling. Last I checked - probably 6 years ago - Greg Palast was following Propagandhi on then Twitter.
The GOP has just begun removing information from the White House website, and federally-managed websites, so we can assume the FEMA pages will soon disappear.
The executive executes the orders or bills of Congress, and has the power to decide how or if it executes. Execution includes writing checks, that is done through the Office of Management and Budget, the unheralded and unremarked but perhaps the most powerful of all cabinet positions.
All Trump has to do is direct that money not be disbursed. There is no law that says that California must get FEmA money, Trump can in fact spend all of FEMA's budget on red states and none on blue states.
There ya go .. Obama for president in 2028! He occupy so much space in the orange mans head .. President Obama needs to figure out how best to utilize that space .. maybe causing it to explode.
A timely update by HCR of our recent history for those who did not live through that history. A movie should follow dramatizing the effects of Fascism on all quarters of the population. Young people have difficulty putting themselves into that dreadful period we call Fascism. Older people not born then were not affected personally with the fear and anguish engendered when one's life is threatened. We've seen many war movies of the period, but the public is in dire need of a refresher and how tRump's policies will affect them personally. The time has come to fight back and preserve what millions of our armed forces died for. Spielberg comes to mind.
I suspect, that like always, the Democratic Party will not energize itself to get out the valid vote, and next time, just sit on its hands hoping like always, that Trump will sabotage his own presidency. Sadly, their lackadaisical approach may reduce the odds of there ever being a "next time."
My view is that Americans are poorly educated when it comes to history and extremely weak in critical reasoning skills - even basic logic. My grammar and HS courses were more about memorizing dates and events than understanding how those events might influence our future - much less our past. What was the significance of the 1066 Battle of Hastings again?
This historical ignorance has become clear with the re-rise of 1930's white supremacist Nazi fascism in America. Trump appears to be faithfully following Hitler's model, and, it seems to be working for him just like it did for Hitler. Yes, Germans did not take loony Hitler seriously until he controlled everything - especially hateful militias like Proudies and Oathers? But Germans despised Jews and the greedy wealthy thought exploiting Hitler would be good for business. But few Americans seem to know those simple facts.
Fear & Loathing motivates voters. It works very well in a world where voters do not even question obvious lies about illegal immigrants from Mexico whom we have allowed in without fuss since before there was a USA. Today, they and their little children are all blood-thirsty murderers, child rapists, and drug pushers who come to America to eat their neighbors' pet cats and dogs. They are contaminating our Arian bloodline and taking prize jobs away from Americans who love making hotel beds, mowing lawns, picking crops, and doing other low-paying menial chores.
Yes Tomonthebeach, this effective strategy is 5 centuries old. It was recommended by Niccolo Machiavelli in THE PRINCE. if American students were receiving a proper education; they would be well aware of this fundamentally cynical political move.
Tom your comment about History being taught as rote memory, took me back to 1953 and American History. My teacher was obese, she had blobs that hung down from her biceps, she didn't teach anything she talked to the blackboard as she scribbled (three walls of them) and we were supposed to take notes of all of her scribblings and pass them in,if we didn't we failed.
All she taught was names and dates, and that was what she tested on. I never really knew the real reason for the American "revolution" until I was in my 70's, and had done ancillary research on genealogy, masters research in finance and also Thom Hartmann
And then I learned I was fed a scripted story, woven around the one thing the wealthy hate, and that is taxes, and it totally ignored the role that monopoly and elitism played.
Hegeseth, even being considered, is what confounds me because Trump said in the past he would turn his back on people who drink alcohol or use drugs. And Melania, who likes wine with dinner, is alright too? C.
Great information. I put the Life Starts at Erection story out as a PSA to people who live in Mississippi or have friends and relatives there to tell their MAGA boyfriends, husbands, fathers or teenage boys that choking their chicken will be illegal. I wonder if the punishment will involve a tiny Guillotine?
Will they use Pete Hegseth on the recruiting posters? Maybe they will put Melania's Be Best on there too. Oh well, that's another nearly trillion dollars the vultures can feast on because he won't understand or be sober enough to care.
Now when there is a climate crisis disaster in your area, the answer to your question will be: "FEMA used to do that!".
Something tells me more money will disappear from the Pentagon. It's definitely going to disappear before it ever reaches a Blue State to create their own emergency management agency.
This is going to be a smash-and-grab crime not an Ocean's 11 heist. People will die while Trump, his thieves, and Putin laugh all the way to THEIR banks.
Regarding legislation on masturbation, here's something to consider. In 1674, Anton Van Leeuwenhoek of Holland, invented the microscope and first saw single cell life. When his contemporaries looked at horse sperm through his microscope, they thought they saw miniature horses. For centuries, people thought that only the father created a baby, that the mother only provided the conditions for the baby to grow. In other words, they viewed biology in botanical terms. In 1827, Karl Ernst von Baer, an Estonian biologist, discovered eggs (ova) in humans and mammals and described the process of fertilization. This ancient view of men's "seed" had dramatic effects on attitudes about women - and the ignorance still does!
In Trump's last term in office, Rick Wilson wrote a book entitled "Everything That Trump Touches Dies". Looks like he is on his way to accomplishing this... Yes, agree that first thing Dems need to do is make the right to vote enforceable- so the Reps cannot throw votes out for no good reason - and rig the elections. Maybe we have it as is - if the Courts would agree.
Re your article about mental telepathy, the Skeptical Inquirer has written about this over the years. We all have hundreds of thoughts every day, and so it’s inevitable that there will be a coincidence once in a while. It happens to everyone. And we don’t remember the 99+% of thoughts that don’t end in a coincidence. But when one hits, we remember it and it’s seems remarkable and supernatural. It’s not. It’s just an inevitable and remarkable coincidence.
Well, if you notice at the bottom of Tom’s post, he talks about his article about telepathy. I read his article and thought I was commenting on that. Sorry if that offended you, but I’m not sure why you thought it was “so inappropriate”.
hi..why would any Democrat compromise with these people...one should never compromise with sociopaths. The Democratic Party leaders need to stand stronger with a more direct and louder voice.
[If the Feds are out to destroy this country, should we boycott our federal tax payments...just pay the state taxes and donate to programs that help people? ]
i watched Vigilantes Inc...a well done and horrible reminder...i will let others know to watch.
LET each State (and Corporation and Bank, etc.) drown in their own debt: Missouri cannot --thank you Mel Hancock!
If I understand correctly, "Crypto-currency" is only as good as the Investment money behind it. In my opinion, the Federal Reserve has been artificially propping up the Stock Market for years!
So NOW, the Democratic hypocrites, along with their RINO co-conspirators, will not "raise the Debt Ceiling? WONDERFUL!!! SHUT THE GOVERNMENT DOWN and charge EVERYONE who is trying to destroy or "fundamentally change" America with "Treason!." I am sick of ALL the Liars!
Where did this "Black kid" go to school? Where are his parents? He didn't learn "that" in my Church or from my Bible!
Money is a social fiction. Ir relies upon faith, and that includes gold. that gold and silver have value is a social fiction. There are rare earth minerals more valuable than gold, there are many things more valuable than gold.
The value of something depends on its demand. Rocks have no value, because nobody wants time, except crushed in the form of gravel, and then they are priced by the yard for paving and concrete.
Money, in what ever form, electronic, printed, coin, paper is accepted in commerce as a medium of exchange, because it is backed by the full faith and credit of a nation.
The Dollar is only as good as the full faith and credit of the United State, as is any currency, that is why some currencies are easily devalued.
Cryptocurrency is the biggest fiction of all, it is backed by nothing, and is literally created out of thin air, it exists electronically in 0's and 1's, and exists on servers, and is created by someone. Who is it that creates bitcoin, $Trump meme coin or any other crypto, what do they have to back up their electronic money. The full faith and credit of Trump, of SBF?
Trump created, in one night, billions of dollar valued crypto, with a keyboard entry.
If I had the techno savvy, I would do the same thing, I could use a yacht, a Boeing 777, a mountaintop refuge, a seaside Mansion, and a worthless collection of shiny classic cars.
Money is a "medium of exchange" based upon "agreement" between traders. Value is determined by demand and supply. However, supply can be artificially controlled. Demand can be manipulated (advertising). Both gold and silver do have useful purposes, not necessarily related to their price.
The Money Supply is controlled: The more money that exists, the less value it has -- that is Inflation. Money is not normally produced out of "thin air," with one exception: Einstein said, "The greatest creation of mankind is 'compound interest.'"
BTW, black "dirt" should have tremendous value: Without it, we would all starve! And, I love a "hill of beans." A wise man once told me, "don't own anything you couldn't eat if you have to."
So what about black gold. I am with you on that accord, but there is a price to pay for our addiction to black gold. I won't pay it, but your children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and mine will pay it.
A wise man than yours, wrote a song, Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose
A wise man, FDR, said a necessitas man is not a free man.
What is "google?" Just kidding -- sorta. What I say comes from 65 years of being around smart Teachers and Farmers. And my dad was a small businessman with a Degree in Accounting. We ran a Dry Cleaners, using petroleum solvents.
But I learned the following from an old friend: He worked at a Kansas City GM Plant in 1960. A co-worker of his bought a brand new full-size Buick with a "special" carburetor. Paul Duff drove the car and it was getting 50 MPG. After the "mistake" was discovered, GM gave his money back, along with a normal car, and told him to "keep his mouth shut." I know this: if all technology was available to the public, "Big Oil and Auto" would not be nearly as rich!
The % of CO2 is increasing in the atmosphere, from many sources. But my main concern is the "Natural Buffer System," -- primarily in the oceans -- that is not absorbing it quickly enough. If those buffers are used up -- and we don't know enough about them -- look out. Or, we could quit exhaling.
One of the most prominent Characteristics of Christianity --other than Love -- is supposed to be "Contentment." I'm still working on that one!
I am the nephew of a southern Baptist Preacher, I even served as a guest preacher one time. (Should have seen my hell and brimstone sermon)
There is no such thing as a Prominent Characteristic of Christianity". none, zilch , nada Christianity is whatever a person who has authority over you and you respect says,
I am positive that there is technology, shelved which would give vehicles 50 MPH or more, after all it was Firestone and GM that bought the electric trolleys of Los Angeles,then sold them for junk, to force people to buy cars, gas and tires, such is the free market.
I share your concern about co2, we are already seeing the effects,but it has nothing to do with breathing. The quantity of CO2 has exceeded the threshold of the tipping point of 250 ppm, it is now 425 and rising, heavy gases, Co1 and methane, trap heat which would be reflected back into space, and warm the molecules of air. The result is Polar Vortex, heat domes, stronger and more frequent hurricanes and tornadoes. worse yet is disruption of the Atlantic Meridionital Circulating Current (AMOC) other wise known as the Gulf Stream and Atlantic current.
The AMOC has depended on warm salt water and cold fresh water to warm the United States,England and Europe . Theheating planet is diluting the AMOC because Greenland glaciers are adding too much fresh cold water, and that affects the atmosphere aswell.
Greedy corporations and countries are rubbing their hands in anticipation of an ice free arctic for shipping, but it comes at a cost, the hastening of the anthropocene.
The earth has gone though many epochs. The last was the holocene, the ice age,it lasted tens of thousands of years, in the 1950's we entered the anthropocene, where the activities of man affected the climate, it is going to be a short lived epoch.
When the wet bulb temperature reaches 95 degrees f. mammals will not be able to survive without air conditioning. the earth has hit that mark last summer in some places.
Meanwhile standby for more climate catastrophes from wlid fires, floods,hurricanes, tornadoes, polar vortex like (Trump says) you have never seen before.
The current estimate is that we have 33 more years. I'll be dead and beyond caring,but my great grandson will be 35, others will be 40 or or older.
Humans are a parasitic pest, they pester, oppress, slaughter and try to dominate others, not to mention fouling the air and water of the very thing that gives them life.
A world without Marx, a world without Capitalism, a world without Christians, a world without Jews, a world without Muslims, is a world at peace.
Unfortunately our demise will also be the demise of all animal kind.
The only Person who has authority over me and whom I fear is God, and He has spoken. His Word cannot be broken and will be fulfilled. "Except the days be shortened, no flesh will be saved." "But God. . . ." "And it came to pass. . . ." The only question He has for anyone is "Why didn't you believe Me?"
As I feared: no more elections, a permanent Martial Law, prisons if you dare to protest, phones and emails censored, prison for you Mr. Hartman....etc.....
MAGA has been gunning for a civil war for nearly a decade. Every time Fox or a Trump supporter urges an ‘emergency’ declaration, it’s an excuse to deploy the military into a democratic-run area. It will be a manufactured war, manufactured (or amplified) civil unrest, bird flu, wildfire, flooding, you name it, Trump will find a vehicle for imposing martial law in blue cities and states.
Violence is coming, and Dems and moderates need to get ready for it. (Get to know your neighbors. Exchange phone and email addresses. Call a neighborhood meeting to talk about known plans for ‘immigrant raids’ or whatever insanity trump comes up with next. Do it now.)
By all early evidence, Trump is setting up J6 2.0, only he won’t wait until 2028 to do it. He’s keenly aware his time is limited, so I expect him to focus on how to extend his time in office.
Jumping ahead, I hope we learned something from Reconstruction last time: don’t forgive the south’s war debt, and don’t let insurrectionists hold office ever again. The 14th A was revised, then revised again to let insurrectionists back at the table, which appears to have been a mistake.
Appears....WAS a mistake. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErcDlpjYL30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErcDlpjYL30.
Here is my question. Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvnia have Democratic Governors
The Secretary of state for all three states are Democrats, so how did the Republicans pull off their steal the vote scheme.
An admission is usually pretty conclusive.
If you are replying to me Daniel, I do not understand your comment.
The how did the Republicans pull off their steal the vote scheme answer is, 1. The Russians are bragging about it, 2. In essence Trump and Musk also admitted it.
Easy to prove to a jury.
Granted, easy to prove to a jury, but first one must compile the evidence, and the file charges or a law suit. No one did that and the three states had Democratic Governors and Secretaries of State, so WTF is going on, and then Kamala couldn't hardly wait to concede, she breathlessly conceded at 4 PM on Nov 6 when the vote counting had just begun.
yeh easy to prove to a jury, but the persons affected either didn't give a shit or threw in the towel, and our freedoms, hard earned rights and democracy with it.
Now she has created an LLC, Pioneer49, Pioneer was her secret service call sign and she was the 49th VP of the United States.
She gets nothing from me but a raspberry.
I watch the unfolding of the assault on our Federal system. While most look at the carnage, I see the impact on the Treasury. The Executive is making way for a tax cut for the wealthy and corporations. That is what I see. Money being laid up to be stolen.
The confirmation of Hegseth indicates the gamesmanship in the Senate is at a high level. The max number of no votes was 3 to get Hegseth confirmed. It is magic. Drama. Clearly there is a lack of empathy and caring that is so prevalent with Republican Senators. Focused on our service members, their lack of empathy and caring shows they suffer psychopathy. Their support of their neo-fascist leader makes them all neo-fascists.
Do you need any other proof that we face an army of psychopathic neo-fascists (PNFs)? I appreciate those that do not like the name and will not support it; however, the name is deadly accurate. Odd words like misogyny and xenophobia are fine, but psychopathic neo-fascist is not fine? Fine! But I beg to differ. Psychopathic neo-fascist is their specific medical malady and political ideology! So give me a break. Enough with inaccurate labels. Knowing exactly who and what they are is critical to knowing their tactics and how to fight them. “Know thy enemy” is a phrase that comes from the ancient Chinese general Sun Tzu's The Art of War. The full quote is, “Know thy enemy and know thyself; in a hundred battles, you will never be defeated.” I suggest we learn the term, psychopathic neo-fascist, because that is exactly who we fight. We must raise, rouse, and rile our army to fight ONE demon, not ONE HUNDRED.
https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/fight-psychopathic-neo-fascists?r=3m1bs
While there is a lack of empathy and caring Carl. The real problem is the three C's
Cowardliness, corruption, complicity, In the case of Hegseths approval it is the cowardliness of Joni Ernst. A retired Lt Col who was a victim of sexual assault, and she voted to approve Hegseth because Trump threatened to primary her.
McConnell, Murkowski and Collins are not worried about being primaried. This is the last term for McConnell and Collins,and Murkowski is an independent, so no badge of courage there.
There was one clear vote against Hegseth, Joni Ernst, a retired officer who had been the victim of sexual assault, then she got a call from Trump that he would primary her and she caved. Our politicians are craven cowards. I think Murkowski and Collins are not going to run for re election anyway so they suddently found a spine.
Politicians are invertebrates. Politics is just another route to wealth.
Last night, Alexandra O'casio Cortez freely admitted on John Stewart that her fellow Democratic congresspeople overwhelmingly engage in insider trading when the information is available in committees and run to their phones to call their financial advisors. I say term limits must be enacted so elected officials don't have time to cozy up to those who provide the riches.
AOC also lambasted the Republicans for the Laken Riley act, but nary a word about the 46 House Democrats and 12 Senate Democrats that voted for the act.
Oh half of Congress, or more, are millionaires, yet the salary is only $174,000 a year, and of that they have to maintain two residences/households, entertain, wine-dine, attend black tie functions, and keep up, very experience, appearances.
I couldn't do it on $174,000
A rose by any other name....
This stench is not the sweetness of a rose, but rather that of raw sewage emanating from the Mall. Perhaps when you get over your cold, you will get a whiff. We have an army to raise, rouse, and rile, and think that serious thought to that end is in order.
Too literal...fear Putin and China as much as the bumbling willing idiot. He and Musk are marks.
What I see is the political geography of 1984, check the map on the wiki link
Oceania, Eurasia, East Asia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_geography_of_Nineteen_Eighty-Four
Stay focused. Next time bring in Florida. I thought you were going to do that.
"Getting rid of FEMA" isn't just about taking away or selectively allocating finances during national emergencies - it's about destroying an entire agency that serves as a meticulously coordinated response apparatus capable of managing nearly any plausible scenario.
I'd encourage people to read up - from the official FEMA website - on what they do and how they do it.
As for Donald J-six Trump threatening Canada with "a good time", I'd look to Canadian punk rock behemoth "Propagandhi" - and lyrics - for a general idea about how our neighbors to the north might be feeling. Last I checked - probably 6 years ago - Greg Palast was following Propagandhi on then Twitter.
Have a good a day everyone.
The GOP has just begun removing information from the White House website, and federally-managed websites, so we can assume the FEMA pages will soon disappear.
Can Trump do that without Congress? If so, how did the President acquire those powers?
I looked it up. Trump needs Congress to change or end FEMA.
He can divert the appropriations to effectively defund them.
I live in a red state that has catastrophies every year....Imangine also Tejas, Louisiana. https://www.wusf.org/weather/2024-11-29/the-2024-atlantic-hurricane-season-was-the-deadliest-in-nearly-two-decades
Bad Moon on the Rise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUQiUFZ5RDw
The executive executes the orders or bills of Congress, and has the power to decide how or if it executes. Execution includes writing checks, that is done through the Office of Management and Budget, the unheralded and unremarked but perhaps the most powerful of all cabinet positions.
All Trump has to do is direct that money not be disbursed. There is no law that says that California must get FEmA money, Trump can in fact spend all of FEMA's budget on red states and none on blue states.
There ya go .. Obama for president in 2028! He occupy so much space in the orange mans head .. President Obama needs to figure out how best to utilize that space .. maybe causing it to explode.
HCR Neswsletter-1/24/25
https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/january-24-2025?r=bpxdl&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
A timely update by HCR of our recent history for those who did not live through that history. A movie should follow dramatizing the effects of Fascism on all quarters of the population. Young people have difficulty putting themselves into that dreadful period we call Fascism. Older people not born then were not affected personally with the fear and anguish engendered when one's life is threatened. We've seen many war movies of the period, but the public is in dire need of a refresher and how tRump's policies will affect them personally. The time has come to fight back and preserve what millions of our armed forces died for. Spielberg comes to mind.
I suspect, that like always, the Democratic Party will not energize itself to get out the valid vote, and next time, just sit on its hands hoping like always, that Trump will sabotage his own presidency. Sadly, their lackadaisical approach may reduce the odds of there ever being a "next time."
My view is that Americans are poorly educated when it comes to history and extremely weak in critical reasoning skills - even basic logic. My grammar and HS courses were more about memorizing dates and events than understanding how those events might influence our future - much less our past. What was the significance of the 1066 Battle of Hastings again?
This historical ignorance has become clear with the re-rise of 1930's white supremacist Nazi fascism in America. Trump appears to be faithfully following Hitler's model, and, it seems to be working for him just like it did for Hitler. Yes, Germans did not take loony Hitler seriously until he controlled everything - especially hateful militias like Proudies and Oathers? But Germans despised Jews and the greedy wealthy thought exploiting Hitler would be good for business. But few Americans seem to know those simple facts.
Fear & Loathing motivates voters. It works very well in a world where voters do not even question obvious lies about illegal immigrants from Mexico whom we have allowed in without fuss since before there was a USA. Today, they and their little children are all blood-thirsty murderers, child rapists, and drug pushers who come to America to eat their neighbors' pet cats and dogs. They are contaminating our Arian bloodline and taking prize jobs away from Americans who love making hotel beds, mowing lawns, picking crops, and doing other low-paying menial chores.
Yes Tomonthebeach, this effective strategy is 5 centuries old. It was recommended by Niccolo Machiavelli in THE PRINCE. if American students were receiving a proper education; they would be well aware of this fundamentally cynical political move.
Tom your comment about History being taught as rote memory, took me back to 1953 and American History. My teacher was obese, she had blobs that hung down from her biceps, she didn't teach anything she talked to the blackboard as she scribbled (three walls of them) and we were supposed to take notes of all of her scribblings and pass them in,if we didn't we failed.
All she taught was names and dates, and that was what she tested on. I never really knew the real reason for the American "revolution" until I was in my 70's, and had done ancillary research on genealogy, masters research in finance and also Thom Hartmann
And then I learned I was fed a scripted story, woven around the one thing the wealthy hate, and that is taxes, and it totally ignored the role that monopoly and elitism played.
I wonder what the party of cruel has in store for us today after confirming an unqualified, womanizing drunk to pit a wreaking ball to the Pentagon.
Hegeseth, even being considered, is what confounds me because Trump said in the past he would turn his back on people who drink alcohol or use drugs. And Melania, who likes wine with dinner, is alright too? C.
Thom,
Great information. I put the Life Starts at Erection story out as a PSA to people who live in Mississippi or have friends and relatives there to tell their MAGA boyfriends, husbands, fathers or teenage boys that choking their chicken will be illegal. I wonder if the punishment will involve a tiny Guillotine?
As always, great all around article.
Be safe and watch your six.
Steve Dundas
Will they use Pete Hegseth on the recruiting posters? Maybe they will put Melania's Be Best on there too. Oh well, that's another nearly trillion dollars the vultures can feast on because he won't understand or be sober enough to care.
Now when there is a climate crisis disaster in your area, the answer to your question will be: "FEMA used to do that!".
Something tells me more money will disappear from the Pentagon. It's definitely going to disappear before it ever reaches a Blue State to create their own emergency management agency.
This is going to be a smash-and-grab crime not an Ocean's 11 heist. People will die while Trump, his thieves, and Putin laugh all the way to THEIR banks.
No Put Melania's nude photos on recruiting posters, that will being the hormone fired young un's in indroves.
Regarding legislation on masturbation, here's something to consider. In 1674, Anton Van Leeuwenhoek of Holland, invented the microscope and first saw single cell life. When his contemporaries looked at horse sperm through his microscope, they thought they saw miniature horses. For centuries, people thought that only the father created a baby, that the mother only provided the conditions for the baby to grow. In other words, they viewed biology in botanical terms. In 1827, Karl Ernst von Baer, an Estonian biologist, discovered eggs (ova) in humans and mammals and described the process of fertilization. This ancient view of men's "seed" had dramatic effects on attitudes about women - and the ignorance still does!
In Trump's last term in office, Rick Wilson wrote a book entitled "Everything That Trump Touches Dies". Looks like he is on his way to accomplishing this... Yes, agree that first thing Dems need to do is make the right to vote enforceable- so the Reps cannot throw votes out for no good reason - and rig the elections. Maybe we have it as is - if the Courts would agree.
Re your article about mental telepathy, the Skeptical Inquirer has written about this over the years. We all have hundreds of thoughts every day, and so it’s inevitable that there will be a coincidence once in a while. It happens to everyone. And we don’t remember the 99+% of thoughts that don’t end in a coincidence. But when one hits, we remember it and it’s seems remarkable and supernatural. It’s not. It’s just an inevitable and remarkable coincidence.
What article about Mental telepathy Mike, and while comments, including mine go off topic. your comment is so inappropriate to the discussion.
Well, if you notice at the bottom of Tom’s post, he talks about his article about telepathy. I read his article and thought I was commenting on that. Sorry if that offended you, but I’m not sure why you thought it was “so inappropriate”.
You didn't offend me Mike. I just didn't see the relevancy, I was myopically limited to the article itself, not to the Wisdom School references.
hi..why would any Democrat compromise with these people...one should never compromise with sociopaths. The Democratic Party leaders need to stand stronger with a more direct and louder voice.
[If the Feds are out to destroy this country, should we boycott our federal tax payments...just pay the state taxes and donate to programs that help people? ]
i watched Vigilantes Inc...a well done and horrible reminder...i will let others know to watch.
People compromise because of the three C;s Barbara.
Cowardness, Corrupted, Compromised.
LET each State (and Corporation and Bank, etc.) drown in their own debt: Missouri cannot --thank you Mel Hancock!
If I understand correctly, "Crypto-currency" is only as good as the Investment money behind it. In my opinion, the Federal Reserve has been artificially propping up the Stock Market for years!
So NOW, the Democratic hypocrites, along with their RINO co-conspirators, will not "raise the Debt Ceiling? WONDERFUL!!! SHUT THE GOVERNMENT DOWN and charge EVERYONE who is trying to destroy or "fundamentally change" America with "Treason!." I am sick of ALL the Liars!
Where did this "Black kid" go to school? Where are his parents? He didn't learn "that" in my Church or from my Bible!
Money is a social fiction. Ir relies upon faith, and that includes gold. that gold and silver have value is a social fiction. There are rare earth minerals more valuable than gold, there are many things more valuable than gold.
The value of something depends on its demand. Rocks have no value, because nobody wants time, except crushed in the form of gravel, and then they are priced by the yard for paving and concrete.
Money, in what ever form, electronic, printed, coin, paper is accepted in commerce as a medium of exchange, because it is backed by the full faith and credit of a nation.
The Dollar is only as good as the full faith and credit of the United State, as is any currency, that is why some currencies are easily devalued.
Cryptocurrency is the biggest fiction of all, it is backed by nothing, and is literally created out of thin air, it exists electronically in 0's and 1's, and exists on servers, and is created by someone. Who is it that creates bitcoin, $Trump meme coin or any other crypto, what do they have to back up their electronic money. The full faith and credit of Trump, of SBF?
Trump created, in one night, billions of dollar valued crypto, with a keyboard entry.
If I had the techno savvy, I would do the same thing, I could use a yacht, a Boeing 777, a mountaintop refuge, a seaside Mansion, and a worthless collection of shiny classic cars.
Money is a "medium of exchange" based upon "agreement" between traders. Value is determined by demand and supply. However, supply can be artificially controlled. Demand can be manipulated (advertising). Both gold and silver do have useful purposes, not necessarily related to their price.
The Money Supply is controlled: The more money that exists, the less value it has -- that is Inflation. Money is not normally produced out of "thin air," with one exception: Einstein said, "The greatest creation of mankind is 'compound interest.'"
BTW, black "dirt" should have tremendous value: Without it, we would all starve! And, I love a "hill of beans." A wise man once told me, "don't own anything you couldn't eat if you have to."
So you can google. I am impressed.
So what about black gold. I am with you on that accord, but there is a price to pay for our addiction to black gold. I won't pay it, but your children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and mine will pay it.
A wise man than yours, wrote a song, Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose
A wise man, FDR, said a necessitas man is not a free man.
What is "google?" Just kidding -- sorta. What I say comes from 65 years of being around smart Teachers and Farmers. And my dad was a small businessman with a Degree in Accounting. We ran a Dry Cleaners, using petroleum solvents.
But I learned the following from an old friend: He worked at a Kansas City GM Plant in 1960. A co-worker of his bought a brand new full-size Buick with a "special" carburetor. Paul Duff drove the car and it was getting 50 MPG. After the "mistake" was discovered, GM gave his money back, along with a normal car, and told him to "keep his mouth shut." I know this: if all technology was available to the public, "Big Oil and Auto" would not be nearly as rich!
The % of CO2 is increasing in the atmosphere, from many sources. But my main concern is the "Natural Buffer System," -- primarily in the oceans -- that is not absorbing it quickly enough. If those buffers are used up -- and we don't know enough about them -- look out. Or, we could quit exhaling.
One of the most prominent Characteristics of Christianity --other than Love -- is supposed to be "Contentment." I'm still working on that one!
I am the nephew of a southern Baptist Preacher, I even served as a guest preacher one time. (Should have seen my hell and brimstone sermon)
There is no such thing as a Prominent Characteristic of Christianity". none, zilch , nada Christianity is whatever a person who has authority over you and you respect says,
I am positive that there is technology, shelved which would give vehicles 50 MPH or more, after all it was Firestone and GM that bought the electric trolleys of Los Angeles,then sold them for junk, to force people to buy cars, gas and tires, such is the free market.
I share your concern about co2, we are already seeing the effects,but it has nothing to do with breathing. The quantity of CO2 has exceeded the threshold of the tipping point of 250 ppm, it is now 425 and rising, heavy gases, Co1 and methane, trap heat which would be reflected back into space, and warm the molecules of air. The result is Polar Vortex, heat domes, stronger and more frequent hurricanes and tornadoes. worse yet is disruption of the Atlantic Meridionital Circulating Current (AMOC) other wise known as the Gulf Stream and Atlantic current.
The AMOC has depended on warm salt water and cold fresh water to warm the United States,England and Europe . Theheating planet is diluting the AMOC because Greenland glaciers are adding too much fresh cold water, and that affects the atmosphere aswell.
Greedy corporations and countries are rubbing their hands in anticipation of an ice free arctic for shipping, but it comes at a cost, the hastening of the anthropocene.
The earth has gone though many epochs. The last was the holocene, the ice age,it lasted tens of thousands of years, in the 1950's we entered the anthropocene, where the activities of man affected the climate, it is going to be a short lived epoch.
When the wet bulb temperature reaches 95 degrees f. mammals will not be able to survive without air conditioning. the earth has hit that mark last summer in some places.
Meanwhile standby for more climate catastrophes from wlid fires, floods,hurricanes, tornadoes, polar vortex like (Trump says) you have never seen before.
The current estimate is that we have 33 more years. I'll be dead and beyond caring,but my great grandson will be 35, others will be 40 or or older.
Humans are a parasitic pest, they pester, oppress, slaughter and try to dominate others, not to mention fouling the air and water of the very thing that gives them life.
A world without Marx, a world without Capitalism, a world without Christians, a world without Jews, a world without Muslims, is a world at peace.
Unfortunately our demise will also be the demise of all animal kind.
The only Person who has authority over me and whom I fear is God, and He has spoken. His Word cannot be broken and will be fulfilled. "Except the days be shortened, no flesh will be saved." "But God. . . ." "And it came to pass. . . ." The only question He has for anyone is "Why didn't you believe Me?"
As I feared: no more elections, a permanent Martial Law, prisons if you dare to protest, phones and emails censored, prison for you Mr. Hartman....etc.....
Prove it! My God and Savior has proven Himself over and over again and I completely trust Him. Who do you trust?