Democracy needs to have representatives in order to avoid the chaos that large masses exercising direct democracy, achieve. The ancient Greeks made direct democracy work but their numbers were not as high as ours. But what might save us is a new institution in addition to representative democracy. This new institution would be small groups of individual citizens that volunteer to gather periodically (say monthly) to discuss important issues but without casting votes or aligning with any political parties. There would be no need for money (talk is still free) and that by itself could kill off corruption. Besides discussing what needs fixing in our country (and coming up with novel ideas) they could ask questions of government officials as well as other leaders in private and professional circles. I imagine 6 people in each group and 8 such groups. Each group would send one of their number to form a special group of 8 reps that would share with one another what their respective groups are talking about. So, I'm talking here about an entity of 48 people. This entity might help set up town hall meetings to which the surrounding community could be invited. My hope is that it might be exciting to be with other concerned people and that this might spread by a kind of chain reaction. I have other remarks to make but this comment is already too long.
I am so amazed at Trump’s negotiating skills. Remember, he said ha is a great negotiator in “The Art of the Deal.”
Remember Trump 1 and “We will build the wall and Mexico will pay for it.” Then after reelection, he made one phone call to Mexico’s President and was told Mexico was not going to pay for the wall. GREAT NEGOTIATIONS, huh?
How about the Father deported to an El Salvador Prison. After being ordered to attempt to get him back the President of El Salvador told Trump “NO WAY.” Trump has reported that the Father isn’t coming home.
FIRST, Trump is a lousy negotiator and second, he does not care about anyone but his rich friends.
America, we have been bilked by TRUMP.
I voted for Kamala Harris who cares about every American.
If you are not attending rallies, contacting your Congressmen, and donating to fight Trump, we may not have a country!
I live in a very red part of Florida - West Coast. Vern Buchanan is our wonderful Rep (written sarcastically). He occasionally sends out emails asking people about certain policies. Today he asked if we agree that the WH policy on tariffs is a good one. Sometimes I don't respond b/c I know what it will report....But today I was shocked. 54% of responders disagreed with WH policy on tariffs. I was shocked and thrilled but now wondering what Vern will do with that information.
A number of people have commented about "How did we Americans come to vote for Trump and follow him?" The simple fact is greed. I knew from the very beginning it was not about "streamlining the government." It was all about greed. Those who voted for Trump thought they would also get a nice slice of the pie. He and his friends have benefited, and the government has been stripped bare. Ferom the very beginning I said, "Follow the money." The path is clear. You can follow it right into the hands of the select sycophants and billionaires as well as a number of wealthy individuals who are now reaping immense rewards. Yet, they now try to distance themselves for the result of the greedy and hateful acts and say "Oh, I didn't know." No surprise there; just a straight line.
Lovely elliptical galaxy. Skilled photo work. I wonder if in 30 million years some "Alien Hubbell" in the galaxy will image the light leaving the Milky Way today. Sapiens, I suspect, will be long extinct. Current admin working hard on accelerating that extinction.
PS check out SNL skit last night. Sometimes skewering that vile man with humor helps.
I rely on BBC and DW for news in Europe and the Middle East. NPR webpage also tells us the truth, which is why their government 10% funding is in jeopardy. I call, I write, but still every single congressperson votes for more $ (i.e. bombs) sent to the IDF forces in Israel. 60 MInutes had a story a week ago on the slaughter in Gaza that is even worse now! Bombs every night on civilians! And every building destroyed--they huddle in tents knowing relatives are buried in the rubble beneath them. These are indeed terrible times, but in a desperate clinging to HOPE...I tell myself:
I am horrified about the listing of immigrants as dead on the Social Security database by the DOGE and MAGA people. And I am not reading about any attempts to sue or otherwise block and undo these terrible actions.
It seems to me we already have a vision - a government of the people, by the people, for the people. Government that provides the protection beyond a military force...infrastructure, NOAA, national parks etc. With an admission that we are a work in progress, working toward a more perfect union, with rights for all.
We democrats have to create a positive vision that is not just reactive. I’d love to see us have a platform that takes on corruption head on since I feel like it’s the elephant in the room. I canvassed in Easton, PA for 6 months leading up to the election, and it was heartbreaking how many felt their vote didn’t matter because they (understandably) believed $’d interests determined our government’s composition and policies.
YES. Loni, you're absolutely right. Dems need an anti-corruption reformist vision that gets dark money out of politics, ends insider trading by explicitly ending individual stock trading in congress and the white house, requires all presidential candidates to make their tax returns public, create explicit ethic code for the supreme court.
We should have a daily Trump/MAGA corruption report. Should have started that on day one about Trump cryptocurrency, essentially a public bribery mechanism.
Bothering me: how much is our government paying to El Salvador to house each inmate per day? For how long will our government be paying these fees?What about the expense of flying people to a foreign country? Most of the people being sent to ElSalvador are not originally from that country; why are they being shipped there and not held in state prisons in the USA?
Can we get a true balance sheet on the cost of Elon Musk’s team crashing our government? Is $ really being saved?
A question: Who is investigating the market manipulation and insider trading by the trump administration. He didn't "balk" about tarifss; he manipulated the market for his cronies. Regular investors weren't given the time to respond and make money....of course. It was a one-morning gift. Has to be illegal, right?
Yesterday we attended the Bernie and AOC Fight Oligarchy rally in Grand Park DTLA! The crowds were HUGE! Some estimates were that 36,000 people attended, and other estimates were as high as 70,000! We heard music from Joan Baez, Maggie Rogers, Neil Young, and speakers Rep Ro Khanna and Rep Pramila Jayapal. It was inspiring, joyful, thoughtful, we expressed our anger and frustration, sang along and celebrated our solidarity! Bernie's message that we have heard for years is to fight oligarchy. We are in the midst of it right now. We must protect the U.S. Constitution, protect each other, and fight for our rights in this country.
Democracy needs to have representatives in order to avoid the chaos that large masses exercising direct democracy, achieve. The ancient Greeks made direct democracy work but their numbers were not as high as ours. But what might save us is a new institution in addition to representative democracy. This new institution would be small groups of individual citizens that volunteer to gather periodically (say monthly) to discuss important issues but without casting votes or aligning with any political parties. There would be no need for money (talk is still free) and that by itself could kill off corruption. Besides discussing what needs fixing in our country (and coming up with novel ideas) they could ask questions of government officials as well as other leaders in private and professional circles. I imagine 6 people in each group and 8 such groups. Each group would send one of their number to form a special group of 8 reps that would share with one another what their respective groups are talking about. So, I'm talking here about an entity of 48 people. This entity might help set up town hall meetings to which the surrounding community could be invited. My hope is that it might be exciting to be with other concerned people and that this might spread by a kind of chain reaction. I have other remarks to make but this comment is already too long.
I am so amazed at Trump’s negotiating skills. Remember, he said ha is a great negotiator in “The Art of the Deal.”
Remember Trump 1 and “We will build the wall and Mexico will pay for it.” Then after reelection, he made one phone call to Mexico’s President and was told Mexico was not going to pay for the wall. GREAT NEGOTIATIONS, huh?
How about the Father deported to an El Salvador Prison. After being ordered to attempt to get him back the President of El Salvador told Trump “NO WAY.” Trump has reported that the Father isn’t coming home.
FIRST, Trump is a lousy negotiator and second, he does not care about anyone but his rich friends.
America, we have been bilked by TRUMP.
I voted for Kamala Harris who cares about every American.
If you are not attending rallies, contacting your Congressmen, and donating to fight Trump, we may not have a country!
I live in a very red part of Florida - West Coast. Vern Buchanan is our wonderful Rep (written sarcastically). He occasionally sends out emails asking people about certain policies. Today he asked if we agree that the WH policy on tariffs is a good one. Sometimes I don't respond b/c I know what it will report....But today I was shocked. 54% of responders disagreed with WH policy on tariffs. I was shocked and thrilled but now wondering what Vern will do with that information.
This man is a national treasure - now at Coachella- the crowd is loud, and fired up.
https://substack.com/@arecacolbert/note/c-108385448?r=194st7
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/15Qcj7y7Gp/
Seek joy.
47 is attacking law firms and judges and the legal system because he will lose in court.
Make him accountable.
Do not obey in advance.
A number of people have commented about "How did we Americans come to vote for Trump and follow him?" The simple fact is greed. I knew from the very beginning it was not about "streamlining the government." It was all about greed. Those who voted for Trump thought they would also get a nice slice of the pie. He and his friends have benefited, and the government has been stripped bare. Ferom the very beginning I said, "Follow the money." The path is clear. You can follow it right into the hands of the select sycophants and billionaires as well as a number of wealthy individuals who are now reaping immense rewards. Yet, they now try to distance themselves for the result of the greedy and hateful acts and say "Oh, I didn't know." No surprise there; just a straight line.
Lovely elliptical galaxy. Skilled photo work. I wonder if in 30 million years some "Alien Hubbell" in the galaxy will image the light leaving the Milky Way today. Sapiens, I suspect, will be long extinct. Current admin working hard on accelerating that extinction.
PS check out SNL skit last night. Sometimes skewering that vile man with humor helps.
I rely on BBC and DW for news in Europe and the Middle East. NPR webpage also tells us the truth, which is why their government 10% funding is in jeopardy. I call, I write, but still every single congressperson votes for more $ (i.e. bombs) sent to the IDF forces in Israel. 60 MInutes had a story a week ago on the slaughter in Gaza that is even worse now! Bombs every night on civilians! And every building destroyed--they huddle in tents knowing relatives are buried in the rubble beneath them. These are indeed terrible times, but in a desperate clinging to HOPE...I tell myself:
THIS, TOO, SHALL PASS
I am horrified about the listing of immigrants as dead on the Social Security database by the DOGE and MAGA people. And I am not reading about any attempts to sue or otherwise block and undo these terrible actions.
Do you have information about protest on April 19 organized by 50501?
We need to develop a positive vision of what we want for our country that goes beyond fighting doge cuts.
It seems to me we already have a vision - a government of the people, by the people, for the people. Government that provides the protection beyond a military force...infrastructure, NOAA, national parks etc. With an admission that we are a work in progress, working toward a more perfect union, with rights for all.
We democrats have to create a positive vision that is not just reactive. I’d love to see us have a platform that takes on corruption head on since I feel like it’s the elephant in the room. I canvassed in Easton, PA for 6 months leading up to the election, and it was heartbreaking how many felt their vote didn’t matter because they (understandably) believed $’d interests determined our government’s composition and policies.
We need to somehow get rid of Citizens United decision...money out of politics!
YES. Loni, you're absolutely right. Dems need an anti-corruption reformist vision that gets dark money out of politics, ends insider trading by explicitly ending individual stock trading in congress and the white house, requires all presidential candidates to make their tax returns public, create explicit ethic code for the supreme court.
We should have a daily Trump/MAGA corruption report. Should have started that on day one about Trump cryptocurrency, essentially a public bribery mechanism.
Bothering me: how much is our government paying to El Salvador to house each inmate per day? For how long will our government be paying these fees?What about the expense of flying people to a foreign country? Most of the people being sent to ElSalvador are not originally from that country; why are they being shipped there and not held in state prisons in the USA?
Can we get a true balance sheet on the cost of Elon Musk’s team crashing our government? Is $ really being saved?
A question: Who is investigating the market manipulation and insider trading by the trump administration. He didn't "balk" about tarifss; he manipulated the market for his cronies. Regular investors weren't given the time to respond and make money....of course. It was a one-morning gift. Has to be illegal, right?
Yesterday we attended the Bernie and AOC Fight Oligarchy rally in Grand Park DTLA! The crowds were HUGE! Some estimates were that 36,000 people attended, and other estimates were as high as 70,000! We heard music from Joan Baez, Maggie Rogers, Neil Young, and speakers Rep Ro Khanna and Rep Pramila Jayapal. It was inspiring, joyful, thoughtful, we expressed our anger and frustration, sang along and celebrated our solidarity! Bernie's message that we have heard for years is to fight oligarchy. We are in the midst of it right now. We must protect the U.S. Constitution, protect each other, and fight for our rights in this country.
https://open.substack.com/pub/programmablemutter/p/were-getting-the-social-media-crisis?r=1tt0l2&utm_medium=ios