I live in ruby red Wyoming. I am now actively working with two grassroots groups as well as our local Democratic Party (I am Vice chair) to figure out how best to resist. We are settling on two areas, as you suggested today.
One is to increase the number of Democrats so we can maintain our status as a major party. If we fall below 10% we will lose that status. Several people have already made the switch.
Also we decided to focus on education and immigration. Our state legislature is dominated by a “freedom” caucus. One of their goals is to kill public education with not only vouchers for private schools, but also to give thousands of dollars to home schoolers. For private and home schools there is no accountability - no standards, no testing, no requirement for teacher qualifications. They can do as they damn well please and receive taxpayer dollars.
If ICE shows up at our schools, I will be there as an act of civil disobedience to thwart them. I am a 76-year-old retired teacher and currently serve on our local school board. Patriotic Americans everywhere need to decide where to draw the line and resort to civil disobedience when it is crossed.
I find your messages to be uplifting and hopeful. I refuse to give in to despair but stand up to this terrible regime as best I can, and I am encouraging others to do the same.
TY. And all across the country it is only 21 months until we have a chance to go to the polls once again and send the cruel, ignorant, or dishonest home. If only 3 seats across all the country change from RED to BLUE, and the current Blue seats are retained, it will be Morning in America.
And today please phone Senators to Vote No on Russell Vought as Director, Office of Management and Budget
Author of Project 2025 on the
anti-constitutional 'unitary executive' , in OMB Vought will use unconstitutional impoundment to freeze appropriated funds to regulatory agencies, social programs, and foreign aid. Congress can go through the motions but to no effect. (As in Hungary and Russia.) Vought is arguably the most dangerous of Trump's nominations.
Thanks for the Indivisible link. I wrote my own short email to get across my vote no point. Both my NC senators are right wing. Ted Budd is a MAGA seditionist, who voted not to certify Biden’s election.
They’re awful, aren’t they? I know they pay no attention to anyone who might be in a blue part of the state, but at least I’m taking up some staff time if nothing else.
Before the past election we warned that if Trump won it would be the last election. That hasn’t changed. We must act now as if elections are endangered. Start the campaigning now. From the other side’s point of view, why have elections at all if they claim they are fake and with cheaters. Why have elections if they create conflict and violence and chaos. We must remember what we were saying a few months ago and act accordingly.
Take our own warnings seriously.
And we must understand that the other side has carefully bought newspapers, radio stations, tv stations and social media. We need more than organizing the Democratic Party.
And we must face what Me Hubbell had pointed out, we are at a very big disadvantage because we rely on facts and honesty. IMO The other side thinks that is our biggest weakness
Kamala Harris provided economic, employment, and immigration focus in every single rally. With specific plans. And btw, employment grew higher under the Biden administration than under any other president. Sadly, we can't really account for the millions who chose not to vote at all. They are choosing to give away our democracy when they give away their votes.
I'm curious too! I'm waiting to see some real polling data. Many of us are guessing on things like the Biden approach to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict that was unpopular in the Arab American community; reluctance (or refusal?) to vote for a Black/Asian candidate; reluctance to vote for a woman (if not now, when?!); perhaps a degree of ignorance about what the Biden/Harris administration has accomplished; perhaps a degree of ignorance about who Trump really is (fanned by right-wing media outlets). I just don't know if these few variables add up to 90 million. But I hope someone is collecting data on it.
Lynette, you are an inspiration! Are you familiar with the Red Cards.Printable PDFs for many languages to help “people assert their rights and defend themselves in many situations, such as when ICE agents go to a home.”
We have vouchers in Florida (the test case for P2025 )where 81% are going to religious schools with no requirements for teacher cert/school accreditation and no income requirements. Also, I kid you not, home schoolers can purchase stand-up paddle boards,wide screen TV’s and theme park tickets.There was pushback and Fl legislature was supposed to address but the homeschoolers revolted.Legislature was too immersed in culture wars to counter.
Thank you. Same here in Idaho- Freedum caucus ijits threaten our state in the same manner. Vouchers, eliminating DEI, climate actions, public lands to state control. Like trying to push water uphill through 4’ of mud. It’s gotten mighty bleak. Reclaim Idaho and increasing younger voter involvement gives me hope. But the work really is never done.
The biggest problem for me is finding the most effective path to victory over this evil presence in America. I was so confident the overwhelming majority of Americans would vote for Kamala and end this regime of hate. It was shattering to me to discover that 49% of this voting population are willing to overlook putting someone in the White House who lies constantly, spews hatred in every sentence, thinks only of himself, is stupid and almost illiterate, will sacrifice anyone who threatens his ability to make money for himself, consorts with billionaires and white nationalists, has no understanding of American history or, for that matter, world history, is a womanizer and racist, blasphemes all the time - shall I go on? Thank God for a place like California, populated with people who think like me. I am discouraged that the people who elected him, will continue to believe the Republicans who band together to create a false narrative for the people who elected him to continue to believe. Just as ordinary Germans believed Hitler and his allies. Jews couldn't stop Hitler. Many Jews and non-Jews risked their lives to save others from Hitler's power until America jumped in. American soldiers lost their lives opposing Hitlerian thinking, and now Trump controls our military? Is that where we're headed at the hands of the ignorant and misguided people who elected him?
Janet, 49% of the people who voted did vote for him but 90 million eligible voters didn't vote at all. That means he got around a quarter (maybe a bit more) of the possible vote. Yes, it's still 77 million people, but those who didn't vote for him number 165 million!!!
Amazing idea to confront ICE at schools, Lynette. Make sure someone's there with a camera! A woman in her seventies standing up to those thugs would make an incredible image.
Hi Lynette -- As a youngster of 74, I am inspired by your courage and your determination - Thank you! I live in solid Blue California, but for a while I lived in Ruby Red Tennessee, and I can appreciate how difficult it is to keep up the fight in your situation. Thank you!
I wold like to copy and paste your comment to a friend and neighbor here in AZ; they’re from WY and call it “ruby red” also! Glad to see there is some resistance there, good luck.
Bravo! BRAVO, Lynette!! The very first thing to do which is suggested by Timothy Snyder in his book “On Tyranny” is DO NOT OBEY IN ADVANCE. That’s what you’re doing!
I am a Chicagoan, and I am deeply disturbed at the fact that Trump is trying to devastate our immigrant communities and destroy our economy with these immigration raids that we know will lead to arresting and deporting people who are legally in the US and US citizens. I call these Pogroms, and make no difference right now. Deporting them is step 1, but if countries don't take them I assume the people will either be used as prison slave labor or worse. It is very dangerous.
The fact that most Americans don't understand the term "fascism" means we need to use other terms that will be understood. I know from reading Prof. Kathleen Belew's book Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America, that this catering to White Supremacists by Trump and his appointees, is dangerous and shameful, and not understood by most in terms of the historical evolution in the US, where there was a gathering of WS from the US and other countries to exactly vilify immigrants in place of their more overt racist rhetoric. It has been a very effective plan. Even many Democrats are going along with unbridled going after immigrants and their vilification as criminals. If there are immigrants who are criminals they can be deported, but they should have due process just like everyone else.
Thanks, @Linda Weide, for what you wrote and the links. In addition to not understanding fascism, I’m guessing a majority of those who didn’t vote for Kamala have no understanding of the “who” the people are: their time in the US, their role as model law-abiding citizens, taxpayers, caring family members, or the status under which they legally live here.
The former GOP (now MAGA) voters and legislators persist in perpetuating the lies with some Dems not saying enough or anything. That the children who already feared school because of potential death by active shooter now fear this nightmare is harming more of the children MAGA says we need to be born. Tho the meaning becomes more clear and reminiscent of my experiences in the early ‘70s when I sought to have a tubal ligation: hospitals’ rule at the time was mother’s age x number of children she had had to equal 120, and signatures of a spouse & of 2 psychiatrists stating you had permission (spouse) and were sound to make what was considered a “deviant” decision. One psychiatrist said “no; you’re just the people who should.” Translation: white.
Didn’t he say or imply in round 1 that there were countries who had immigrants we’d take? His 3rd wife must be one and his youngest birthright son the right ones.
He won because too many Americans are willing to overlook serious deficiencies of character. The things in American life that require compassion, love, and moral character are about to be compromised, and most of America will stand by twiddling their thumbs.
Joan, I agree that too many seem unaware of how our immigrants problem was the German's Jewish problem. The same group is perpetrating the same tactics here, namely the White Supremacists and Nazis. Trump has 4 children with non-American born women. The first three, and then his 5th. Only his fourth, the daughter of Marla Maples has 2 American born parents.
I have recently been watching series set in Sweden and Germany which take place in hospitals in the past, and the sexism for the women working in the hospitals and the patients is a shocking reminder of how far we have come, and why we don't want to go back. Your Tubal Ligation story makes me think of this. Interestingly enough a Brown-skinned German friend of mine wanted her tubes tied in her mid 20s because she had 2 children already. The hospital here let her do this, so formula gone. Her friends cautioned her. Later on she remarried and wanted to have a baby with her new husband but her pregnancy of twins miscarried. She had paid to have the tubal ligation undone. I cannot help but think that even though she was upper middle class, the color of her skin made sterilizing her easier than if she had had "white-skin."
Thank you, Linda, for adding more. I too observe how far we've come in some areas but Hegseth is certainly determined to set the US Military back. I was pleased to read today that despite the "remove DEI" order, the training videos for service members in which the Tuskegee Airmen were featured and removed on the order last week have been restored. It tho' is minor compared to all the other issues. Read here on the left of the page the rights of women and others being removed from the Services - and this before the DEI order. https://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/
Yes, about women of color generally were and are encouraged to prevent pregnancies. It's not true across the Board. A young woman immigrant from Central America with 3 children who worked at a business I frequented wanted to get her tubes tied. She had to go through similar hoops that I did and this was in the last 5 years. JD wants women to all have lots of children. We'll see how selective it becomes.
Abbott sent busloads of migrants up here with nothing but the clothes on their backs. It's been a very cold winter. In Evanston and just north of here in Wilmette (Northshore suburbs) we set up donation centers of non-perishable food, diapers, other personal care items,winter clothing etc. The buses would drop of the migrants at the Metra (commuter railroad) stations, sometimes in the middle of the night. Police and volunteers would staff the stations. Then the migrants would be transferred to the location in Chicago where housing and in some instances health care was necessary. It's been horribly expensive and a logistics nightmare, especially as winter set in. Just such a tragedy.
Yes. Trump has a beef with Chicago's mayor and of course with Illinois's governor, who is a Chicagoan too. Chicago is the financial hub of the state, even though it is a big Ag state. So, destroying the economy would be a boon to Trump. However, according to the Illinois General Assembly, the biggest sectors are Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Rental and Leasing. https://usafacts.org/answers/what-is-the-gross-domestic-product-gdp/state/illinois/
Trump wants to put the hurt on Blue States, and according to Prof. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, this is to contribute to the destruction of the US. Trump is doing Putin's bidding, and that is to destroy both the US and NATO from within. With both US and EU diminished Putin can rebuild his precious Soviet Union.
Who Trump does not care at all about is the citizens of the USA unless they are worth several billions and support him.
Yes. He also does not draw a salary. His wealth was inherited, not made, and the trust manages it. However, the family fortune was worth a lot more before it was divvied up amongst the inheritors, because they could not agree, and that includes in politics.
No, but I know that they have great articles which is why I subscribe and donate. Have to support good independent journalism. Also, I have complained to them and gotten responses, unlike when I complained to the NYT editors.
Marlene, I was trying to distinguish between the Ku Klux Klan, Skinheads, Nazis and the other White Supremacist groups. Here is Prof. Kathleen Belew detailing the movement that came together after the Vietnam War. Might start a few minutes in after the social chit chat in the beginning.
Trump thrives on headlines so he makes them. He will say anything, do anything as long as it becomes “news”. Trump doesn’t care if courts or congress overturn his executive orders. They get print and he gets attention. His vision of hell is being ignored.
“Use your town square. Marc writes: “Every one of us has a town square. . . We all have a role to play, so don’t assume your voice is too faint or your platform too small.”
This is key. I suggest that everyone call their elected representatives at least 2 or 3 times a week. Pick your issue of the day. My issue today is Trump’s illegal firing of the Inspectors General. These calls are tallied. They matter. They show our elected officials that we’re paying attention. Remember: Silence is assent. Don’t be silent.
All great advice in newsletter. Subscribing to democracy docket well worth it remembering that some of funds are used in legal court battles. And acting as individuals in our family and friend circles is a good strategy. Small individual actions matter. Yet so does working in groups. I participated in a local group in postcard writing and will make calls today.
One thought— there are 3 races upcoming in House around 4/1 — see ballotpedia. If these three races go democratic, Hakeem Jefferies replaces Mike Johnson
Believing that Mitch McConnell is one of the most evil men in our country, I'm curious as to how his vote for Hegseth came about. I don't believe for a minute that McConnell has suddenly decided to do what was right. Maybe he wanted to give Vance the power of a deciding vote, but that doesn't fit his history of complete obstruction. Does anyone have any insight on this?
No insider info here -- just guessing: He knows full well that he is now powerless as a GOP mover and shaker, is officially old and in the way, and is in significantly declining health. The game is to keep riding the gravy train until his number comes up or he finishes his current term in Jan 2027, whichever happens first, and in the meantime flip the bird to the First Felon, whom he detests, when he can without damaging his ass cover too much.
No inside info here but as I suggested in a previous comment, I think the key is that his vote was non decisive. That made it easy for McConnell without actually having to take a meaningful stand. I speculated that he never would have voted against Hegseth if his was the deciding 4th Republican "no" and that's what I continue to believe. He's still the same guy he's always been.
No informed insights tho my gut and his past actions tell me it was to give virtually-invisible JD something to do, boost his masculinity since there has been no mention of “the boss of all” (T not G-d!) conferring with the Veep.
We didn’t watch any of the rally & indoor “parade” last Monday, 1/20. It seemed Musk stole the thunder with his Nazi arm from any role JD had.
McConnell, being old time GOP Senate and former leader, knows Senate protocol inside out. He may have watched votes closely and voted his conscience, while still allowing T Maga their wanton destruction. That would mitigate how much of a target he becomes for their wrath (they already hate him anyway, and their vitriol has ADHD).
McConnell is up for reelection in 2026. Maybe he will not run. Kentucky has Andy Beshaer, a Democrat, as Governor. By 2026, when everyone has been overloaded with the horror of the maga administration, is there any hope we can flip Kentucky? McConnell is no longer Speaker. John Thune is Speaker. They are both a disgrace to Democracy.
This is a powerful column, and I have read all the comments, also powerful. Before I read it I was thinking that so many Americans don’t even know what’s going on because so far it has not touched upon them personally. So we need to bring it to the attention of those people, they cannot stay living in their bubble and what happens in another state happens to us all. It has to all matter to everyone.
Pam -- What is happening here will touch every American eventually in some way, powerfully. The tipping point won't occur until then. To hasten that time, I'm glad that things seem to be moving quickly.
All of Trump's appointments will do operational harm through incompetence, ignorance, ideology, and impulse. Much of it irreparable on the individual level of the impact of bad policy and worse actions. But Russell Vought as Director of OMB will do irreparable harm to our system of government - the separation of powers, the balance of powers, congressional limitations on the executive, the legislative process of coming to consensus, the power of the purse to appropriate funds particularly to fund regulatory agencies, social programs, and foreign aid. In effect the complete appropriation of congressional authority. And that is the point. Congress can continue to go through the motions but it will have no effect, as through impoundment Vought can freeze all congressional appropriations and through Schedule F Vought can hand the civil service to Trump. An unconstitutional means to overturning the constitution. The next step, after immunity, of establishing an absolute sovereign. The arbitrary exercise of unaccountable authority.
Please watch Democratic Sen.Patty Murray question Vought on impoundment.
In listening to the Senate hearings with Vought, I had the sense of being with Hannah Arendt at the trial of Adolf Eichmann. Here was a man, Russell Vought, who feigned to have no purpose but to channel the directives of Donald Trump. Vought explicitly claimed that the only answer he would give was Trump policy already in the public record.
His contempt for Congress was implicit in every word. In answer to questions as to whether Project 2025 influenced Trump's executive orders, Vought said they could not have because Trump had said he had nothing to do with Project 2025. Vought wrote the Project 2025 chapter on the 'unitary executive' and Trump wants Vought in the position to implement it.
Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse questions Vought.
It was through sheer thoughtlessness—something by no means identical with stupidity—that predisposed him to become one of the greatest criminals of that period. And if this is 'banal' and even funny, if with the best will in the world one cannot extract any diabolical or demonic profundity from Eichmann, this is still far from calling it commonplace… That such remoteness from reality and such thoughtlessness can wreak more havoc than all the evil instincts taken together which, perhaps, are inherent in man—that was, in fact, the lesson one could learn in Jerusalem.
Hannah Arendt
Who was “us” and who was “them” was a matter not of sympathy or disposition but of decree.
... counterterrorism was not the necessary means to fight terrorism; rather, it was the reverse: the incidence of terrorism was necessary to install a counterterrorist order, impose a state of emergency, and suspend the rule of law.
Peter Fritzsche, Hitler's First Hundred Days: When Germans Embraced the Third Reich
[Peter] Fritzsche makes the telling argument that violence not only silenced Nazi opponents but was also essential to building support. The ongoing violence, choreographed as public rituals of humiliation that portrayed Nazi opponents as weak and ridiculous, turned entertained spectators into accomplices by virtue of their “voyeuristic pleasure.”
Yes, Vought is not only dangerous, but his hearing responses were contemptuous and frankly, quietly sneering through his pinched face. I watched the exchange with Kaine, whose questions he deemed beneath him, something akin to "I don't need to answer questions" in a Congressional hearing. Unbelievable -- they occupy a different universe.
Thanks for these excellent summaries and analysis of Arendt's and Fritzsche's work. Arendt, is one of the great thinkers on totalitarianism in the 20th century, and the echoes of her analysis of the "banality of evil" in Eichmann and so many Nazis can be seen in Trump supporters since Charlottesville. And Fritzche's book is a terrifying and vivid account of how quickly and spectacularly democracies can collapse. We need to work hard to push back. Thanks for deepening this community's knowledge.
Monday, January 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, of its series of escalating propaganda, restrictions, persecutions, round ups, displacement to ghettos and concentration camps, slave labor, and industrialized mass murder--that dangerously echo today.
Remembering my mother's childhood friend Susi and her parents:
As we are truly being bombarded with abhorrent new people and policies, it's hard to choose battles wisely. So I like this point from sociologist Walter. I think having experts reinforce key issues lends them durability and creates focal points:
"2. Use aggregators & experts: Find trusted analysts who do the heavy lifting of synthesis. Look for those explaining patterns, not just events."
TPM ran a number of articles this weekend that reinforce key issues. One was the recognition that Tulsi Gabbard is most likely to be rejected by the Senate (it will still be hard with this compliant GOP). She would do irreparable damage to our intelligence. I don't know what we can do to help the vote, save maybe praying to the spirits of Hawaii to take her back. Another article was the important poll also mentioned by Robert; Josh Marshall couldn't believe his eyes when he read only 12% of Americans agree with pardons, and only 20% for Republicans. The unconscionable pardons are worth hammering every day until midterms. And yet another article mentioned executive overreach into the judiciary; the same type of overreach happened re: legislative with procedural violations of firing Inspector Generals. I do hope there is some way to retain some IGs, or at least create a wedge.
Re: Hegseth, an early victory just happened with the reversal of Tuskegee Airmen being whitewashed out of training. With vigorous pushback, that essential history is now being restored as of Monday. Their DEI canard raises a major potential conflict: Supreme Court ruled to keep affirmative action for military academies in 2023. How will this play out? I'm also looking out for a polite "feud" brewing with Roberts and Trump down the line. I'd like to see Roberts move to hold the center, as Trump regime careens off the extremist cliff.
I did not know The Trump / Musk feud was so close, but the sooner the better: Musk is a menace to democratic polities the world over. That it is happening on an issue I am very sensitive to -- international diplomacy and allies -- makes me hope a shred of alliance might still remain with at least the U.K. Articles have appeared showing both the U.K. leaning more towards the EU now, as well as U.K. officials thinking Trump is a laughable tool. But better a laughable relationship than an adversarial one.
Tyranny experts and other leaders say we should not normalize T's actions by using regular language. I've seen encouragement to use "executive edicts" or "authoritarian orders" instead of executive orders. That's what they were; let's not soften them.
Robert, thank you for the breathtakingly beautiful image of the Western Veil Nebula.
It was the perfect antidote to the ugliness of week one's news. The pieces of advice you offered for coping are good to keep on hand to share to others as needed; I have started collecting inspirational bits from writers such as Rebecca Solnit.
Is our word (speaking) powerful or do we regard our word as just another mundane thing among all the various other things in the world?
We lose the power of word “Talk is cheap” when we stop honoring our word. When we make a promise (give our word) and then break that promise AND then do not go back and clean up the mess that not keeping our word produces. This includes not keeping our word to ourselves. So it’s actually not that talk is cheap, it’s actually that honor is expensive. Losing the power of word by not honoring our word is paying the ultimate price.
The power to create anything arises as an act in speaking. The creating by speaking is called declaration. When our word is imbued with the power of the honor we bring to it, we can then bring something into existence simply by declaring it. Speaking without honor, declaring without honor creates nothing. The United States itself was brought into being through declaration and then honoring that declaration. We even wrote the words of that declaration on paper. The United States continued existence lives in the continued speaking AND in the listening of that speaking, because speaking always requires a listener.
In this sense, listening is as powerful and creative as speaking. Not recognizing that speaking must always have listening in order to be creative has us miss the power of listening. When we read, we give the power of listening to the written word as much as if it were spoken.
It is time to recognize/remember and reclaim the power of our listening as well as the already recognized power of speaking. Listening is not cheap if we honor it as we honor our word.
Rs don’t have “The” power, nor do D’s. Each and every one of us has the exact same power at all times and in all circumstances, and that is the power to bring something into existence. The power of creation is simply declaration and then honoring that declaration.
By this measure, T is the most forceful and least powerful amongst us.
Great, and I’ll add that in doing what we say, we will or we won’t.
Restoring our integrity by honoring our word means getting back up by cleaning up our own messes without anyone coming after us to to so and even doing it when no one is there to see us do it or even if no one ever knows it. Getting credit, being liked or admired, having the respect of others, all have no bearing on honor. Honor like the universe is absolutely indifferent to our insignificant wants and desires.
Integrity is about honoring ourselves which has nothing to do with anyone but ourselves.
Yes, thank you. I am thinking that our personal integrity is inherently connected to respect for ourselves and other humans. My main intention here is to affirm my deep respect for RH. And to underline my belief that Robert's lending his particular articulation of humane 'ethical voice' in this forum teaches us, and affirms those qualities among us, and by extension, to Others.
I live in ruby red Wyoming. I am now actively working with two grassroots groups as well as our local Democratic Party (I am Vice chair) to figure out how best to resist. We are settling on two areas, as you suggested today.
One is to increase the number of Democrats so we can maintain our status as a major party. If we fall below 10% we will lose that status. Several people have already made the switch.
Also we decided to focus on education and immigration. Our state legislature is dominated by a “freedom” caucus. One of their goals is to kill public education with not only vouchers for private schools, but also to give thousands of dollars to home schoolers. For private and home schools there is no accountability - no standards, no testing, no requirement for teacher qualifications. They can do as they damn well please and receive taxpayer dollars.
If ICE shows up at our schools, I will be there as an act of civil disobedience to thwart them. I am a 76-year-old retired teacher and currently serve on our local school board. Patriotic Americans everywhere need to decide where to draw the line and resort to civil disobedience when it is crossed.
I find your messages to be uplifting and hopeful. I refuse to give in to despair but stand up to this terrible regime as best I can, and I am encouraging others to do the same.
TY. And all across the country it is only 21 months until we have a chance to go to the polls once again and send the cruel, ignorant, or dishonest home. If only 3 seats across all the country change from RED to BLUE, and the current Blue seats are retained, it will be Morning in America.
And today please phone Senators to Vote No on Russell Vought as Director, Office of Management and Budget
Author of Project 2025 on the
anti-constitutional 'unitary executive' , in OMB Vought will use unconstitutional impoundment to freeze appropriated funds to regulatory agencies, social programs, and foreign aid. Congress can go through the motions but to no effect. (As in Hungary and Russia.) Vought is arguably the most dangerous of Trump's nominations.
Find Your Senator
.https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm.
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Chair: Rand Paul
202-224-4343
Ranking Member: Gary Peters
(202) 224-6221
Democrat of Concern: John Fetterman
(202) 224-4254
Indivisible has a super easy tool for contacting your senators:
https://www.nixthenoms.com/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=_20240119
Thanks for the Indivisible link. I wrote my own short email to get across my vote no point. Both my NC senators are right wing. Ted Budd is a MAGA seditionist, who voted not to certify Biden’s election.
They’re awful, aren’t they? I know they pay no attention to anyone who might be in a blue part of the state, but at least I’m taking up some staff time if nothing else.
Thank you for this link! It's wonderful.
Thank you! Done. At least I took up some time in the offices office so Tillis and Budd!
Before the past election we warned that if Trump won it would be the last election. That hasn’t changed. We must act now as if elections are endangered. Start the campaigning now. From the other side’s point of view, why have elections at all if they claim they are fake and with cheaters. Why have elections if they create conflict and violence and chaos. We must remember what we were saying a few months ago and act accordingly.
Take our own warnings seriously.
And we must understand that the other side has carefully bought newspapers, radio stations, tv stations and social media. We need more than organizing the Democratic Party.
And we must face what Me Hubbell had pointed out, we are at a very big disadvantage because we rely on facts and honesty. IMO The other side thinks that is our biggest weakness
About time the DNC leadership focused on real economic and employment and immigration issues and stopped the focus on wedge issues.
Kamala Harris provided economic, employment, and immigration focus in every single rally. With specific plans. And btw, employment grew higher under the Biden administration than under any other president. Sadly, we can't really account for the millions who chose not to vote at all. They are choosing to give away our democracy when they give away their votes.
I'd be curious on your views on the top 4 reasons Kamala didn't prevail over Trump.
I'm curious too! I'm waiting to see some real polling data. Many of us are guessing on things like the Biden approach to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict that was unpopular in the Arab American community; reluctance (or refusal?) to vote for a Black/Asian candidate; reluctance to vote for a woman (if not now, when?!); perhaps a degree of ignorance about what the Biden/Harris administration has accomplished; perhaps a degree of ignorance about who Trump really is (fanned by right-wing media outlets). I just don't know if these few variables add up to 90 million. But I hope someone is collecting data on it.
Yes, Agreed. And let’s keep eyes wide open ‘cause these guys know all of what you said and they will be waiting for us. We can in no way be complacent
But we can be hopeful. And we can vote.
Lynette, you are an inspiration! Are you familiar with the Red Cards.Printable PDFs for many languages to help “people assert their rights and defend themselves in many situations, such as when ICE agents go to a home.”
https://www.ilrc.org/red-cards-tarjetas-rojas
We have vouchers in Florida (the test case for P2025 )where 81% are going to religious schools with no requirements for teacher cert/school accreditation and no income requirements. Also, I kid you not, home schoolers can purchase stand-up paddle boards,wide screen TV’s and theme park tickets.There was pushback and Fl legislature was supposed to address but the homeschoolers revolted.Legislature was too immersed in culture wars to counter.
Don’t let America be Florida !
Thank you for showing the way. 🙏
I am inspired by your post.
Thank you. Same here in Idaho- Freedum caucus ijits threaten our state in the same manner. Vouchers, eliminating DEI, climate actions, public lands to state control. Like trying to push water uphill through 4’ of mud. It’s gotten mighty bleak. Reclaim Idaho and increasing younger voter involvement gives me hope. But the work really is never done.
The biggest problem for me is finding the most effective path to victory over this evil presence in America. I was so confident the overwhelming majority of Americans would vote for Kamala and end this regime of hate. It was shattering to me to discover that 49% of this voting population are willing to overlook putting someone in the White House who lies constantly, spews hatred in every sentence, thinks only of himself, is stupid and almost illiterate, will sacrifice anyone who threatens his ability to make money for himself, consorts with billionaires and white nationalists, has no understanding of American history or, for that matter, world history, is a womanizer and racist, blasphemes all the time - shall I go on? Thank God for a place like California, populated with people who think like me. I am discouraged that the people who elected him, will continue to believe the Republicans who band together to create a false narrative for the people who elected him to continue to believe. Just as ordinary Germans believed Hitler and his allies. Jews couldn't stop Hitler. Many Jews and non-Jews risked their lives to save others from Hitler's power until America jumped in. American soldiers lost their lives opposing Hitlerian thinking, and now Trump controls our military? Is that where we're headed at the hands of the ignorant and misguided people who elected him?
Janet, 49% of the people who voted did vote for him but 90 million eligible voters didn't vote at all. That means he got around a quarter (maybe a bit more) of the possible vote. Yes, it's still 77 million people, but those who didn't vote for him number 165 million!!!
Amazing idea to confront ICE at schools, Lynette. Make sure someone's there with a camera! A woman in her seventies standing up to those thugs would make an incredible image.
Totally awesome!
Lynette, you are an inspiration! I might suggest you develop your own Substack so we can more easily follow you. Thank you for all you do!
Thank you! May you be an example (and teacher) to others organizing to fight back.
Hi Lynette -- As a youngster of 74, I am inspired by your courage and your determination - Thank you! I live in solid Blue California, but for a while I lived in Ruby Red Tennessee, and I can appreciate how difficult it is to keep up the fight in your situation. Thank you!
Lynette,
Are there ways people outside Wyoming can support your efforts? Please advise.
I wold like to copy and paste your comment to a friend and neighbor here in AZ; they’re from WY and call it “ruby red” also! Glad to see there is some resistance there, good luck.
Thanks for not giving up!
Thanks you for your encouragement Lynette. It is very necessary.
Bravo! BRAVO, Lynette!! The very first thing to do which is suggested by Timothy Snyder in his book “On Tyranny” is DO NOT OBEY IN ADVANCE. That’s what you’re doing!
A fairly apolitical grad school friend (from 55 or so years ago) posted this on Facebook. I think it's too good not to pass on:
DEI has not gone away, but has been redirected to lift up those dealing with:
Drunkenness
Extramarital Affairs
Incompetence
I LOVE this!!
I am a Chicagoan, and I am deeply disturbed at the fact that Trump is trying to devastate our immigrant communities and destroy our economy with these immigration raids that we know will lead to arresting and deporting people who are legally in the US and US citizens. I call these Pogroms, and make no difference right now. Deporting them is step 1, but if countries don't take them I assume the people will either be used as prison slave labor or worse. It is very dangerous.
Here is a discussion of the Musk's Sieg Heil salute in The Guardian that is saying something important about this moment in our history. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/26/elon-musk-far-right-antisemitism?utm_term=679631f97a9063a144823d6fd46e3eb7&utm_campaign=GuardianTodayUS&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&CMP=GTUS_email
It ties together with this article about the rise of the Neo-Nazi's and immigration. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/26/neo-nazis-trump-extremism?utm_term=679631f97a9063a144823d6fd46e3eb7&utm_campaign=GuardianTodayUS&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&CMP=GTUS_email
The fact that most Americans don't understand the term "fascism" means we need to use other terms that will be understood. I know from reading Prof. Kathleen Belew's book Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America, that this catering to White Supremacists by Trump and his appointees, is dangerous and shameful, and not understood by most in terms of the historical evolution in the US, where there was a gathering of WS from the US and other countries to exactly vilify immigrants in place of their more overt racist rhetoric. It has been a very effective plan. Even many Democrats are going along with unbridled going after immigrants and their vilification as criminals. If there are immigrants who are criminals they can be deported, but they should have due process just like everyone else.
Thanks, @Linda Weide, for what you wrote and the links. In addition to not understanding fascism, I’m guessing a majority of those who didn’t vote for Kamala have no understanding of the “who” the people are: their time in the US, their role as model law-abiding citizens, taxpayers, caring family members, or the status under which they legally live here.
The former GOP (now MAGA) voters and legislators persist in perpetuating the lies with some Dems not saying enough or anything. That the children who already feared school because of potential death by active shooter now fear this nightmare is harming more of the children MAGA says we need to be born. Tho the meaning becomes more clear and reminiscent of my experiences in the early ‘70s when I sought to have a tubal ligation: hospitals’ rule at the time was mother’s age x number of children she had had to equal 120, and signatures of a spouse & of 2 psychiatrists stating you had permission (spouse) and were sound to make what was considered a “deviant” decision. One psychiatrist said “no; you’re just the people who should.” Translation: white.
Didn’t he say or imply in round 1 that there were countries who had immigrants we’d take? His 3rd wife must be one and his youngest birthright son the right ones.
And, repeat 3 times over: Trump didn't win a majority of America, he won a plurality. Any noises you hear about Mandates or Majority are just hogwash.
He won because too many Americans are willing to overlook serious deficiencies of character. The things in American life that require compassion, love, and moral character are about to be compromised, and most of America will stand by twiddling their thumbs.
But not voting at all? 1/3 of our electorate chose that path.
Assuming their votes weren't suppressed.
As I said above:
T: 77 million
Other or none at all: 165 million.
He did not get a majority of *eligible* voters, but less than 30%.
Barron Trump=Melania's anchor baby
Joan, I agree that too many seem unaware of how our immigrants problem was the German's Jewish problem. The same group is perpetrating the same tactics here, namely the White Supremacists and Nazis. Trump has 4 children with non-American born women. The first three, and then his 5th. Only his fourth, the daughter of Marla Maples has 2 American born parents.
I have recently been watching series set in Sweden and Germany which take place in hospitals in the past, and the sexism for the women working in the hospitals and the patients is a shocking reminder of how far we have come, and why we don't want to go back. Your Tubal Ligation story makes me think of this. Interestingly enough a Brown-skinned German friend of mine wanted her tubes tied in her mid 20s because she had 2 children already. The hospital here let her do this, so formula gone. Her friends cautioned her. Later on she remarried and wanted to have a baby with her new husband but her pregnancy of twins miscarried. She had paid to have the tubal ligation undone. I cannot help but think that even though she was upper middle class, the color of her skin made sterilizing her easier than if she had had "white-skin."
Thank you, Linda, for adding more. I too observe how far we've come in some areas but Hegseth is certainly determined to set the US Military back. I was pleased to read today that despite the "remove DEI" order, the training videos for service members in which the Tuskegee Airmen were featured and removed on the order last week have been restored. It tho' is minor compared to all the other issues. Read here on the left of the page the rights of women and others being removed from the Services - and this before the DEI order. https://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/
Yes, about women of color generally were and are encouraged to prevent pregnancies. It's not true across the Board. A young woman immigrant from Central America with 3 children who worked at a business I frequented wanted to get her tubes tied. She had to go through similar hoops that I did and this was in the last 5 years. JD wants women to all have lots of children. We'll see how selective it becomes.
They want babies of color to grow up and become cannon fodder and white babies to grow up and rule them.
I observe that the raids have started in a Blue City in a Blue State. As opposed to, say, starting in Dallas, or Jacksonville, or Tulsa, or Omaha.
Abbott sent busloads of migrants up here with nothing but the clothes on their backs. It's been a very cold winter. In Evanston and just north of here in Wilmette (Northshore suburbs) we set up donation centers of non-perishable food, diapers, other personal care items,winter clothing etc. The buses would drop of the migrants at the Metra (commuter railroad) stations, sometimes in the middle of the night. Police and volunteers would staff the stations. Then the migrants would be transferred to the location in Chicago where housing and in some instances health care was necessary. It's been horribly expensive and a logistics nightmare, especially as winter set in. Just such a tragedy.
You can never fully plumb the depths of depravity that lie within the hearts of Abbott and Paxton.
Yes. Trump has a beef with Chicago's mayor and of course with Illinois's governor, who is a Chicagoan too. Chicago is the financial hub of the state, even though it is a big Ag state. So, destroying the economy would be a boon to Trump. However, according to the Illinois General Assembly, the biggest sectors are Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Rental and Leasing. https://usafacts.org/answers/what-is-the-gross-domestic-product-gdp/state/illinois/
Trump wants to put the hurt on Blue States, and according to Prof. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, this is to contribute to the destruction of the US. Trump is doing Putin's bidding, and that is to destroy both the US and NATO from within. With both US and EU diminished Putin can rebuild his precious Soviet Union.
Who Trump does not care at all about is the citizens of the USA unless they are worth several billions and support him.
The funny thing about Pritzker is that he too, is a billionaire…but a compassionate one!
Yes. He also does not draw a salary. His wealth was inherited, not made, and the trust manages it. However, the family fortune was worth a lot more before it was divvied up amongst the inheritors, because they could not agree, and that includes in politics.
I think a paid subscription to the Guardian is well worth it. I gave up NYT and WAPO
Same here. I am trying to support as much independent journalism as I can afford to and appreciate that many seek donations instead of fees.
Awesome links. Did you post this one? It sent chills up my spine. I'm going to have to subscribe to the Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/24/trump-pete-hegseth-extremism?CMP=share_btn_url
No, but I know that they have great articles which is why I subscribe and donate. Have to support good independent journalism. Also, I have complained to them and gotten responses, unlike when I complained to the NYT editors.
We call them Nazis, Linda. Let’s get used to calling them that because it sums up the words of racism and fascism.
Marlene, I was trying to distinguish between the Ku Klux Klan, Skinheads, Nazis and the other White Supremacist groups. Here is Prof. Kathleen Belew detailing the movement that came together after the Vietnam War. Might start a few minutes in after the social chit chat in the beginning.
https://youtu.be/OhXb90TI7As?si=F-5aK0xFv3QvuBow
Trump thrives on headlines so he makes them. He will say anything, do anything as long as it becomes “news”. Trump doesn’t care if courts or congress overturn his executive orders. They get print and he gets attention. His vision of hell is being ignored.
“Use your town square. Marc writes: “Every one of us has a town square. . . We all have a role to play, so don’t assume your voice is too faint or your platform too small.”
This is key. I suggest that everyone call their elected representatives at least 2 or 3 times a week. Pick your issue of the day. My issue today is Trump’s illegal firing of the Inspectors General. These calls are tallied. They matter. They show our elected officials that we’re paying attention. Remember: Silence is assent. Don’t be silent.
All great advice in newsletter. Subscribing to democracy docket well worth it remembering that some of funds are used in legal court battles. And acting as individuals in our family and friend circles is a good strategy. Small individual actions matter. Yet so does working in groups. I participated in a local group in postcard writing and will make calls today.
One thought— there are 3 races upcoming in House around 4/1 — see ballotpedia. If these three races go democratic, Hakeem Jefferies replaces Mike Johnson
Watch for get out the vote actions The races are
Stefanic. NY 21.
FL 01 Gaetz
FL 06 Waltz
Thanks for encouragement to carry on!
🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼
Notice the immigration raids are focused in Blue states.
Believing that Mitch McConnell is one of the most evil men in our country, I'm curious as to how his vote for Hegseth came about. I don't believe for a minute that McConnell has suddenly decided to do what was right. Maybe he wanted to give Vance the power of a deciding vote, but that doesn't fit his history of complete obstruction. Does anyone have any insight on this?
No insider info here -- just guessing: He knows full well that he is now powerless as a GOP mover and shaker, is officially old and in the way, and is in significantly declining health. The game is to keep riding the gravy train until his number comes up or he finishes his current term in Jan 2027, whichever happens first, and in the meantime flip the bird to the First Felon, whom he detests, when he can without damaging his ass cover too much.
I agree.
No inside info here but as I suggested in a previous comment, I think the key is that his vote was non decisive. That made it easy for McConnell without actually having to take a meaningful stand. I speculated that he never would have voted against Hegseth if his was the deciding 4th Republican "no" and that's what I continue to believe. He's still the same guy he's always been.
Agree. That's what I meant by "without damaging his ass cover too much."
Yes, the devil incarnate. Too bad he won’t “freeze up” permanently.
No informed insights tho my gut and his past actions tell me it was to give virtually-invisible JD something to do, boost his masculinity since there has been no mention of “the boss of all” (T not G-d!) conferring with the Veep.
We didn’t watch any of the rally & indoor “parade” last Monday, 1/20. It seemed Musk stole the thunder with his Nazi arm from any role JD had.
That makes sense. I thought that Vance had to be somewhere in the decision.
McConnell, being old time GOP Senate and former leader, knows Senate protocol inside out. He may have watched votes closely and voted his conscience, while still allowing T Maga their wanton destruction. That would mitigate how much of a target he becomes for their wrath (they already hate him anyway, and their vitriol has ADHD).
McConnell is up for reelection in 2026. Maybe he will not run. Kentucky has Andy Beshaer, a Democrat, as Governor. By 2026, when everyone has been overloaded with the horror of the maga administration, is there any hope we can flip Kentucky? McConnell is no longer Speaker. John Thune is Speaker. They are both a disgrace to Democracy.
This is a powerful column, and I have read all the comments, also powerful. Before I read it I was thinking that so many Americans don’t even know what’s going on because so far it has not touched upon them personally. So we need to bring it to the attention of those people, they cannot stay living in their bubble and what happens in another state happens to us all. It has to all matter to everyone.
Pam -- What is happening here will touch every American eventually in some way, powerfully. The tipping point won't occur until then. To hasten that time, I'm glad that things seem to be moving quickly.
All of Trump's appointments will do operational harm through incompetence, ignorance, ideology, and impulse. Much of it irreparable on the individual level of the impact of bad policy and worse actions. But Russell Vought as Director of OMB will do irreparable harm to our system of government - the separation of powers, the balance of powers, congressional limitations on the executive, the legislative process of coming to consensus, the power of the purse to appropriate funds particularly to fund regulatory agencies, social programs, and foreign aid. In effect the complete appropriation of congressional authority. And that is the point. Congress can continue to go through the motions but it will have no effect, as through impoundment Vought can freeze all congressional appropriations and through Schedule F Vought can hand the civil service to Trump. An unconstitutional means to overturning the constitution. The next step, after immunity, of establishing an absolute sovereign. The arbitrary exercise of unaccountable authority.
Please watch Democratic Sen.Patty Murray question Vought on impoundment.
.https://youtu.be/Qv_lF0q7rbI?si=MaKNU5Mpb9TeIZzj.
In listening to the Senate hearings with Vought, I had the sense of being with Hannah Arendt at the trial of Adolf Eichmann. Here was a man, Russell Vought, who feigned to have no purpose but to channel the directives of Donald Trump. Vought explicitly claimed that the only answer he would give was Trump policy already in the public record.
His contempt for Congress was implicit in every word. In answer to questions as to whether Project 2025 influenced Trump's executive orders, Vought said they could not have because Trump had said he had nothing to do with Project 2025. Vought wrote the Project 2025 chapter on the 'unitary executive' and Trump wants Vought in the position to implement it.
Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse questions Vought.
.https://youtu.be/I5eJaZafSMQ?si=6_G6ZB1sBkXlIacd.
Democratic Sen. Andy Kim questions Vought.
.https://youtu.be/6iDdrG8uRn4?si=n2nS--O3oOSiAZFY.
It was through sheer thoughtlessness—something by no means identical with stupidity—that predisposed him to become one of the greatest criminals of that period. And if this is 'banal' and even funny, if with the best will in the world one cannot extract any diabolical or demonic profundity from Eichmann, this is still far from calling it commonplace… That such remoteness from reality and such thoughtlessness can wreak more havoc than all the evil instincts taken together which, perhaps, are inherent in man—that was, in fact, the lesson one could learn in Jerusalem.
Hannah Arendt
Who was “us” and who was “them” was a matter not of sympathy or disposition but of decree.
... counterterrorism was not the necessary means to fight terrorism; rather, it was the reverse: the incidence of terrorism was necessary to install a counterterrorist order, impose a state of emergency, and suspend the rule of law.
Peter Fritzsche, Hitler's First Hundred Days: When Germans Embraced the Third Reich
[Peter] Fritzsche makes the telling argument that violence not only silenced Nazi opponents but was also essential to building support. The ongoing violence, choreographed as public rituals of humiliation that portrayed Nazi opponents as weak and ridiculous, turned entertained spectators into accomplices by virtue of their “voyeuristic pleasure.”
https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2024/11/07/hitlers-enablers-the-death-of-democracy-benjamin-carter-hett
Yes, Vought is not only dangerous, but his hearing responses were contemptuous and frankly, quietly sneering through his pinched face. I watched the exchange with Kaine, whose questions he deemed beneath him, something akin to "I don't need to answer questions" in a Congressional hearing. Unbelievable -- they occupy a different universe.
Thanks for these excellent summaries and analysis of Arendt's and Fritzsche's work. Arendt, is one of the great thinkers on totalitarianism in the 20th century, and the echoes of her analysis of the "banality of evil" in Eichmann and so many Nazis can be seen in Trump supporters since Charlottesville. And Fritzche's book is a terrifying and vivid account of how quickly and spectacularly democracies can collapse. We need to work hard to push back. Thanks for deepening this community's knowledge.
ThankYou.
So many of us deepen the community's knowledge.
Resisters
How Ordinary Jews Fought Persecution in Hitler's Germany
by Wolf Gruner
https://yalebooks.yale.edu/9780300267198/resisters
https://youtu.be/TnbR3wDKx04?si=EtJtD9PLW1VGFqUg
Mothers in the Fatherland
Women, the Family and Nazi Politics
The roles played by women – as followers, victims and resisters – in the rise of Nazism.
https://www.routledge.com/Mothers-in-the-Fatherland-Women-the-Family-and-Nazi-Politics/Koonz/p/book/9781138008083
How Nazis made antisemitism respectable [re: GOP white supremacism , MAGA and deportations]
https://youtu.be/usL9bmrnQRk?si=cR0p9idXa7ZRi3Qm
Monday, January 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, of its series of escalating propaganda, restrictions, persecutions, round ups, displacement to ghettos and concentration camps, slave labor, and industrialized mass murder--that dangerously echo today.
Remembering my mother's childhood friend Susi and her parents:
https://bsky.app/profile/elliekona.bsky.social/post/3lgpvdfufjc2w
As we are truly being bombarded with abhorrent new people and policies, it's hard to choose battles wisely. So I like this point from sociologist Walter. I think having experts reinforce key issues lends them durability and creates focal points:
"2. Use aggregators & experts: Find trusted analysts who do the heavy lifting of synthesis. Look for those explaining patterns, not just events."
TPM ran a number of articles this weekend that reinforce key issues. One was the recognition that Tulsi Gabbard is most likely to be rejected by the Senate (it will still be hard with this compliant GOP). She would do irreparable damage to our intelligence. I don't know what we can do to help the vote, save maybe praying to the spirits of Hawaii to take her back. Another article was the important poll also mentioned by Robert; Josh Marshall couldn't believe his eyes when he read only 12% of Americans agree with pardons, and only 20% for Republicans. The unconscionable pardons are worth hammering every day until midterms. And yet another article mentioned executive overreach into the judiciary; the same type of overreach happened re: legislative with procedural violations of firing Inspector Generals. I do hope there is some way to retain some IGs, or at least create a wedge.
Re: Hegseth, an early victory just happened with the reversal of Tuskegee Airmen being whitewashed out of training. With vigorous pushback, that essential history is now being restored as of Monday. Their DEI canard raises a major potential conflict: Supreme Court ruled to keep affirmative action for military academies in 2023. How will this play out? I'm also looking out for a polite "feud" brewing with Roberts and Trump down the line. I'd like to see Roberts move to hold the center, as Trump regime careens off the extremist cliff.
I did not know The Trump / Musk feud was so close, but the sooner the better: Musk is a menace to democratic polities the world over. That it is happening on an issue I am very sensitive to -- international diplomacy and allies -- makes me hope a shred of alliance might still remain with at least the U.K. Articles have appeared showing both the U.K. leaning more towards the EU now, as well as U.K. officials thinking Trump is a laughable tool. But better a laughable relationship than an adversarial one.
Tyranny experts and other leaders say we should not normalize T's actions by using regular language. I've seen encouragement to use "executive edicts" or "authoritarian orders" instead of executive orders. That's what they were; let's not soften them.
Also, let's not call the Attack on the Capital "Jan Six." Sounds innocent, coy, cute. It was a horror, a tragedy, a nightmare. Words matter.
Diktat.
Robert, thank you for the breathtakingly beautiful image of the Western Veil Nebula.
It was the perfect antidote to the ugliness of week one's news. The pieces of advice you offered for coping are good to keep on hand to share to others as needed; I have started collecting inspirational bits from writers such as Rebecca Solnit.
Power (not force) is a function of honor.
Is our word (speaking) powerful or do we regard our word as just another mundane thing among all the various other things in the world?
We lose the power of word “Talk is cheap” when we stop honoring our word. When we make a promise (give our word) and then break that promise AND then do not go back and clean up the mess that not keeping our word produces. This includes not keeping our word to ourselves. So it’s actually not that talk is cheap, it’s actually that honor is expensive. Losing the power of word by not honoring our word is paying the ultimate price.
The power to create anything arises as an act in speaking. The creating by speaking is called declaration. When our word is imbued with the power of the honor we bring to it, we can then bring something into existence simply by declaring it. Speaking without honor, declaring without honor creates nothing. The United States itself was brought into being through declaration and then honoring that declaration. We even wrote the words of that declaration on paper. The United States continued existence lives in the continued speaking AND in the listening of that speaking, because speaking always requires a listener.
In this sense, listening is as powerful and creative as speaking. Not recognizing that speaking must always have listening in order to be creative has us miss the power of listening. When we read, we give the power of listening to the written word as much as if it were spoken.
It is time to recognize/remember and reclaim the power of our listening as well as the already recognized power of speaking. Listening is not cheap if we honor it as we honor our word.
Rs don’t have “The” power, nor do D’s. Each and every one of us has the exact same power at all times and in all circumstances, and that is the power to bring something into existence. The power of creation is simply declaration and then honoring that declaration.
By this measure, T is the most forceful and least powerful amongst us.
Let us say what we mean, mean what we say, do what we say we're going to do... in dialogue with others of integrity and conviction.
Great, and I’ll add that in doing what we say, we will or we won’t.
Restoring our integrity by honoring our word means getting back up by cleaning up our own messes without anyone coming after us to to so and even doing it when no one is there to see us do it or even if no one ever knows it. Getting credit, being liked or admired, having the respect of others, all have no bearing on honor. Honor like the universe is absolutely indifferent to our insignificant wants and desires.
Integrity is about honoring ourselves which has nothing to do with anyone but ourselves.
Yes, thank you. I am thinking that our personal integrity is inherently connected to respect for ourselves and other humans. My main intention here is to affirm my deep respect for RH. And to underline my belief that Robert's lending his particular articulation of humane 'ethical voice' in this forum teaches us, and affirms those qualities among us, and by extension, to Others.
I have forwarded this excellent edition to my friends. So wise. Thank you