Thank you for this. The piece about living in two different realities? Father and son each believing different things? This is what happens when you lose the political middle. Disinformation fills the gaps - maybe even on both sides? I think we’ll need a two step cure to get out of this mess. First, we’ll all need to feel tremendous pain. That will at least break the spell. But then - Dems must find THE candidate who is likeable and has big tent appeal. I don’t care if it’s not a woman or a person of color. I don’t care if I don’t get everything I want. I care that it’s a fair minded globalist who listens to science and believes in the humanity of every person. That’s my new bar. In the meantime, I hope everyone does an audit on their spending: make the Big Tech Bros hurt too (don’t forget that WaPo is owned by he-who-shall-not-be-named so unsubscribe). My spending is way, way down (and we used to spend a ton). Never forget - your weapon is your wallet.
Bill Maher was talking about this on his last episode. I know he's polarizing, but I still listen to the audio version of Real Time. His big tent ticket idea is John Fetterman, with Pete Buttigieg as VP. His logic is that Fetterman is a realist who talks like the voters. He is moderate, willing to negotiate and work across the aisle, swears, and can match that Trump energy but in a productive sane way. And Pete is a star in democratic party. I never would have paired these two men up, but I've been thinking about it a lot. I REALLY want to see Pete on the ticket, personally at the top of the ticket, but putting someone like Fetterman up is thought provoking. Whatever the Democrats have been doing, it isn't working. Time to shift gears, and at this point I'm very open minded.
Thank you - always such an interesting mix of current and historical information. I found the article on the Ranger and homelessness very hopeful. The Park Rangers are currently leading the resistance against autocracy. They would also be in a perfect position to help the homeless in many of our parks. I was a social worker for decades and am now a volunteer- the homeless are the consequence of decades of policy neglect and helping them is brutally hard. The American Park Ranger has proven to be one of our many quiet heroes.
I can’t find an example in history when wealthy oligarchs lost a big chunk of the bourgeoisie and instead aligned with the proletariat. Usually that alignment is reserved for communist/socialist/marxist leaders of which Trump and Elon are certainly not! Can you find an example in history where this alignment of extraordinarily wealthy leadership skips over the upper classes and is embraced by the bottom 60%?
The article on the ranger helping with homelessness in the park was fascinating. Solving homelessness is such a complex issue and many of our current systems just don't seem equipped to handle it in a compassionate and dignified manner, so it's nice to see an incidence where that IS being done. But as it pointed out, it's an incredibly intensive process, so how do we scale that up? (I'd love to see a future article on this, maybe with someone like Kevin Nye.)
That New Yorker piece was so poignant. I had been talking with my partner yesterday about what the soldiers in Ukraine must be feeling right now. I think it’s just this- a mix of passion for their country, anger at Trump’s comments and Russia’s actions, and exhaustion. They just want peace and to be home again. War should not be a normal reality.
Wow!! 🥹 Your information this week has helped our family to not give up and keep doing the next needed thing! Thank you for all the work and time you put in. We appreciate you! Sending you love and a big hug! ❤️🙏❤️
Thank you for this. The piece about living in two different realities? Father and son each believing different things? This is what happens when you lose the political middle. Disinformation fills the gaps - maybe even on both sides? I think we’ll need a two step cure to get out of this mess. First, we’ll all need to feel tremendous pain. That will at least break the spell. But then - Dems must find THE candidate who is likeable and has big tent appeal. I don’t care if it’s not a woman or a person of color. I don’t care if I don’t get everything I want. I care that it’s a fair minded globalist who listens to science and believes in the humanity of every person. That’s my new bar. In the meantime, I hope everyone does an audit on their spending: make the Big Tech Bros hurt too (don’t forget that WaPo is owned by he-who-shall-not-be-named so unsubscribe). My spending is way, way down (and we used to spend a ton). Never forget - your weapon is your wallet.
Bill Maher was talking about this on his last episode. I know he's polarizing, but I still listen to the audio version of Real Time. His big tent ticket idea is John Fetterman, with Pete Buttigieg as VP. His logic is that Fetterman is a realist who talks like the voters. He is moderate, willing to negotiate and work across the aisle, swears, and can match that Trump energy but in a productive sane way. And Pete is a star in democratic party. I never would have paired these two men up, but I've been thinking about it a lot. I REALLY want to see Pete on the ticket, personally at the top of the ticket, but putting someone like Fetterman up is thought provoking. Whatever the Democrats have been doing, it isn't working. Time to shift gears, and at this point I'm very open minded.
Thank you - always such an interesting mix of current and historical information. I found the article on the Ranger and homelessness very hopeful. The Park Rangers are currently leading the resistance against autocracy. They would also be in a perfect position to help the homeless in many of our parks. I was a social worker for decades and am now a volunteer- the homeless are the consequence of decades of policy neglect and helping them is brutally hard. The American Park Ranger has proven to be one of our many quiet heroes.
Sharon - can you educate us on something?
I can’t find an example in history when wealthy oligarchs lost a big chunk of the bourgeoisie and instead aligned with the proletariat. Usually that alignment is reserved for communist/socialist/marxist leaders of which Trump and Elon are certainly not! Can you find an example in history where this alignment of extraordinarily wealthy leadership skips over the upper classes and is embraced by the bottom 60%?
The article on the ranger helping with homelessness in the park was fascinating. Solving homelessness is such a complex issue and many of our current systems just don't seem equipped to handle it in a compassionate and dignified manner, so it's nice to see an incidence where that IS being done. But as it pointed out, it's an incredibly intensive process, so how do we scale that up? (I'd love to see a future article on this, maybe with someone like Kevin Nye.)
Always love to see what you're reading, watching & listening to. Thank you so much for all you do to educate with facts!
That New Yorker piece was so poignant. I had been talking with my partner yesterday about what the soldiers in Ukraine must be feeling right now. I think it’s just this- a mix of passion for their country, anger at Trump’s comments and Russia’s actions, and exhaustion. They just want peace and to be home again. War should not be a normal reality.
Just listened to the Zach Mack podcast!
Wow!! 🥹 Your information this week has helped our family to not give up and keep doing the next needed thing! Thank you for all the work and time you put in. We appreciate you! Sending you love and a big hug! ❤️🙏❤️