We all should applaud and value Mr. Hubbell's continuing valiant efforts to assure his fellow progressives that there is NOT a dark cloud behind every apparent silver lining. We are fresh from the paroxysms of despair about the midterms subscribed to by most Democrats, only to see most of our candidates survive--and most of the worst MAGA GOP candidates go down to well-deserved defeat.
And now the drumbeat about the impending disaster we face in '24 has already begun. Just wait to see the effects of the demolition of Trump as a viable--make that conceivable--candidate for national office AND the ongoing spectacle of the Republican fight over the House speakership on voters in all but the reddest states. Our opponents will continue to chose despicable proponents of wildly unpopular ideas as their spokespersons. Good luck with that.
The only near-term discordant note I hear is the rumblings about Sen. Manchin's putative move to become an Independent. To what effect? In a 51-49 Senate he would be choosing to lose his current significant leverage to become a GOP backbencher in the minority. I believe Chuck Schumer will prove adroit enough to keep Joe Manchin in the Democratic caucus--whatever label he wishes to use. Indeed, an "Independent" Sen. Manchin may have a far better chance of reelection in '24 than one called a Democrat.
I am quite surprised and disappointed to read that there are folks here who have fallen victim to the ivermectin hoax. I thought I was among only level-headed, thinking readers. Anti-science propaganda is indeed far-reaching and continues to harm our neighbors..
I suspect I may be the victim of anti vax trolls. They never post comments but email me regularly. Their emails follow a script. Sadly, Substack is home to one of the biggest antivaxxers out there. I won’t mention his name but he has been indentified by news organizations as one of the top ten sources of disinformation on social media re vaccines.
Thanks for the reassurance that the sources of the emails may not be readers. I worked for a pharmaceutical company for 25 years and am well aware that the industry is profit-motivated. I also have first-hand knowledge of the FDA's role in consumer safety. Anti-vaxxers have no value to society from my vantage point.
I just did a 20-year stint and agree that the industry is profit-motivated (what industry isn't?). But I saw huge numbers of vaccines being donated to the WHO, too. And they did save our butts with the 'rona! P.S. Kudos to the researchers at the University of Pennsylvania who gave us mRNA, which will also be used for cancer treatments (melanoma, last I read).
I have come across folks who have embraced the Ivermectin con. Most recently, it was a couple who have been on the right side of most issues (anti-MAGA, pro human rights, voting rights, etc.)
But they are products of the Supplement Anti Mainstream Medicine Movement. Kind of like the lefty hippies of Marin County who were anti-vaxxers before it started "trending".
Because of their distrust of main stream medicine they are always ready for that "alternative treatment" that proves big Pharma wrong. Regardless of controlled studies that lead to the facts.
Don't get me wrong. I believe there is a place in health care for alternatives and integrative care can be helpful. But Ivermectin is right up there with Laetrile and Linus Pauling's 10 grams of Vitamin C per day (he died of cancer).
It still stuns me how people prefer a desired belief over facts and the truth. Maybe it's also just very hard for us to admit when we are wrong. So we bite deeper. Like the victims of a Ponzi scheme who still say they love Mr. Ponzi.
We’ll said. I’m a retired family physician who practiced evidence-based medicine. But I was happy to recommend non-pharmaceutical treatments where there was good evidence of effectiveness. Examples are zinc lozenges for colds, turmeric for osteoarthritis, acupuncture for certain conditions, etc. And I’m a strong believer that our psyches have much effect on our health - that is, mind-body medicine.
That said, the field of alternative medicine is loaded with people who believe that claims, theories, anecdotes, and positive (wishful) thinking about any given treatment are enough. They don’t accept that very carefully done placebo-controlled, double-blind studies - ones that can be openly challenged by knowledgeable colleagues - are key to protecting the public from medical hucksterism and dangerous misinformation.
Sadly, this strong propensity to believe what one wants to believe, and be convinced the experts are liars, has played a major role in setting the nation up for anti-vaxxers, MAGA foolishness, and 200,000+ unnecessary U.S. COVID deaths. If you Google it, you’ll see this is the case re: alternative medicine enthusiasts and Trumpism.
Irrational, wishful thinking is a dangerous slippery slope. IMO, rapidly-changing modern life, runaway marketing, and social media make us setups.
So, pure-hearted snake oil salesmen vs. lying experts, I suppose. Down with authority figures! (Except for those who claim “I alone can fix it. Believe me. . .)
I do check out supplements but I’m not a nut. Back in the day (I’m old), Adele Davis wrote a book expounding on the virtue of organ meats. I even talked my husband into trying some liver “nougats.” He heaved at the thought. She died of cancer and I never tried another recipe. Still try to use a little common sense, but science rules.
Dec 19, 2022·edited Dec 19, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Ellie, I write because I particularly was struck by the idea of embracing the perception of ourselves as “truth / information warriors.” However, I also would note one area, in my view, that receives grossly inadequate attention is the increasingly accelerated military spending endorsed by both parties that overwhelmingly takes precedence over much needed funding on the home front.
I have been an information warrior for the greater part of my life. Curating the news for friends and family is now my main occupation. You have shown me that this is not only a necessary work, but also a vital one. I am so grateful to you, Robert.
“…faithless servants and aspiring tyrants” are apt descriptions of the evil that threatens us all, and evil it is. Make no mistake, the money and ideology has been percolating for decades, in an attempt to destroy what they give lip service to loving. Reagan comes to mind; Michael Deaver had him wrapped in a flag and spouting Bull Schitt as he and cronies imported Rupert Murdoch to take the country from Walter (the most trusted man in America) to Rupert (the Goebbels of propaganda). And it all happened under the noses of leftovers from Nixon, Reagan Democrats and democrats who were trying to play by the bipartisan rules. It will take decades for “warriors” for “truth, justice and the American way” to defeat the “faithless servants and aspiring tyrants.”
I didn't know ivermectin was still a "thing"? I've had 3 covid shots, 2 boosters and a flu shot but my younger sister (71 years) tells me ivermectin really works - but only the kind for humans, not horses. Well folks this is the logic you get when you have a sibling who lives in Marjorie Taylor Green's district in NW Georgia. She has been fortunate to dodge covid to date but I don't like her chances should she contract it. Exhausted.
My sister, the RN lives in TX and told me "they've had some really good results with it". Unbelievable. As I told her, they've had good results treating nematodes, not virus.
It’s obvious that sitting Republican member of Congress did not learn anything from the mid term elections. It’s sad and ironic that members like Jim Jordan and Kevin McCarthy both of whom refused subpoena’s and were active participants in the J6th attempt to overthrow the government are both issuing a baloney shadow report and initiating revenge investigations not based on any real evidence but purely vengeance based. They are perpetuating the dysfunctional reality of the Republican Party and confirming their lack of a backbone to once and for all walk away from Trump. Voters in the midterms and now have sent a message that they have “ had enough”. A message that once again is being ignored.
Well said. I guess when you have nothing constructive to offer in the way of policies or projects, you can only attack. When was the last time a Republican proposed anything that would improve homelessness, child nutrition and education, access to healthcare, job training for those displaced by new technology...anything? Protecting potable water supplies and protecting our electric grid...anything? There is a lot that could be done if we focused on it instead of demonizing the other party. Americans are tired of Hunters laptop and Hillary's emails. They are tired of the culture wars and attacks on teachers. They are tired of hate.
I remember back in the days when I was a new parent. I was also a new Democrat, wedded to the belief of equality and every individual's divinely inspired inner compass. My two and half year old son was exhibiting some unpleasant and willful behaviors. Luckily for me, I had a friend who was a teacher of special needs preschoolers. She said to me, "If you don't stop those behaviors now, you won't be able to stop them later." I took a brief course in parenting and learned about non-violent discipline such as time out and consequences including chores and helping others. To my delight it worked. Proud to say that son is a pleasant, compassionate adult.
The metaphor is, those Republicans and mean-spirited insurrectionists are children who throw temper tantrums and find delight in harming others. Yes, by all means they need to have consequence; be given community service and time outs...including dismissal from their roles in Congress and for some contemplative time in prison.
I love your discussion about the "chaos monkey," but I'd posit that it describes Trump even more than Musk. Congress should be rebuilding the guardrails that Trump obliterated by viewing their executive oversight role in that light. I fear, though, that Democrats and Republicans use different definitions of "oversight;" Ds interpret it as, "to oversee," while Rs interpret it as, "to overlook."
So you'd think Big Pharma would argue against it in favor of more expensive vaccine treatments. Or are they already doing this, but ignored by the "true believers"?
We’re so happy that you could join us on Saturday’s Holiday Zoom! We all realize how much work we have yet to do and while the odds keep getting higher, so does the number of folks who are becoming engaged, especially the youth vote. One thing we all can do is encourage our friends and relatives not to quit. On Sunday I talked to a relative and she said she’s not watching the news anymore nor reading the paper. She just “can’t take it” anymore. She’s a true blue voter, but burnt out. So let’s be sure we wrap these folks in our proverbial embrace and help them continue in these efforts.
Small note on the Musk poll. It was for followers of Musk only . If it was for all Twitter users the results would have likely been even more against him. I don’t follow Musk and so wasn’t included.
I find it stunning that DeSantis has not been sued in a wrongful death class-action lawsuit brought against him by loved ones of Floridians who died of COVID because of his disinformation. I mean, he actually waged a disinformation campaign and got ppl killed. And now I find it even more stunning (or stupid) that he intends to wage war against Big Pharma, very large contributors to campaigns. For one thing, he stopped keeping stats - so how does he intend to prove anything? Good luck with that, you white-booted weasel!
We all should applaud and value Mr. Hubbell's continuing valiant efforts to assure his fellow progressives that there is NOT a dark cloud behind every apparent silver lining. We are fresh from the paroxysms of despair about the midterms subscribed to by most Democrats, only to see most of our candidates survive--and most of the worst MAGA GOP candidates go down to well-deserved defeat.
And now the drumbeat about the impending disaster we face in '24 has already begun. Just wait to see the effects of the demolition of Trump as a viable--make that conceivable--candidate for national office AND the ongoing spectacle of the Republican fight over the House speakership on voters in all but the reddest states. Our opponents will continue to chose despicable proponents of wildly unpopular ideas as their spokespersons. Good luck with that.
The only near-term discordant note I hear is the rumblings about Sen. Manchin's putative move to become an Independent. To what effect? In a 51-49 Senate he would be choosing to lose his current significant leverage to become a GOP backbencher in the minority. I believe Chuck Schumer will prove adroit enough to keep Joe Manchin in the Democratic caucus--whatever label he wishes to use. Indeed, an "Independent" Sen. Manchin may have a far better chance of reelection in '24 than one called a Democrat.
I am quite surprised and disappointed to read that there are folks here who have fallen victim to the ivermectin hoax. I thought I was among only level-headed, thinking readers. Anti-science propaganda is indeed far-reaching and continues to harm our neighbors..
I suspect I may be the victim of anti vax trolls. They never post comments but email me regularly. Their emails follow a script. Sadly, Substack is home to one of the biggest antivaxxers out there. I won’t mention his name but he has been indentified by news organizations as one of the top ten sources of disinformation on social media re vaccines.
Thanks for the reassurance that the sources of the emails may not be readers. I worked for a pharmaceutical company for 25 years and am well aware that the industry is profit-motivated. I also have first-hand knowledge of the FDA's role in consumer safety. Anti-vaxxers have no value to society from my vantage point.
I just did a 20-year stint and agree that the industry is profit-motivated (what industry isn't?). But I saw huge numbers of vaccines being donated to the WHO, too. And they did save our butts with the 'rona! P.S. Kudos to the researchers at the University of Pennsylvania who gave us mRNA, which will also be used for cancer treatments (melanoma, last I read).
I have come across folks who have embraced the Ivermectin con. Most recently, it was a couple who have been on the right side of most issues (anti-MAGA, pro human rights, voting rights, etc.)
But they are products of the Supplement Anti Mainstream Medicine Movement. Kind of like the lefty hippies of Marin County who were anti-vaxxers before it started "trending".
Because of their distrust of main stream medicine they are always ready for that "alternative treatment" that proves big Pharma wrong. Regardless of controlled studies that lead to the facts.
Don't get me wrong. I believe there is a place in health care for alternatives and integrative care can be helpful. But Ivermectin is right up there with Laetrile and Linus Pauling's 10 grams of Vitamin C per day (he died of cancer).
It still stuns me how people prefer a desired belief over facts and the truth. Maybe it's also just very hard for us to admit when we are wrong. So we bite deeper. Like the victims of a Ponzi scheme who still say they love Mr. Ponzi.
We’ll said. I’m a retired family physician who practiced evidence-based medicine. But I was happy to recommend non-pharmaceutical treatments where there was good evidence of effectiveness. Examples are zinc lozenges for colds, turmeric for osteoarthritis, acupuncture for certain conditions, etc. And I’m a strong believer that our psyches have much effect on our health - that is, mind-body medicine.
That said, the field of alternative medicine is loaded with people who believe that claims, theories, anecdotes, and positive (wishful) thinking about any given treatment are enough. They don’t accept that very carefully done placebo-controlled, double-blind studies - ones that can be openly challenged by knowledgeable colleagues - are key to protecting the public from medical hucksterism and dangerous misinformation.
Sadly, this strong propensity to believe what one wants to believe, and be convinced the experts are liars, has played a major role in setting the nation up for anti-vaxxers, MAGA foolishness, and 200,000+ unnecessary U.S. COVID deaths. If you Google it, you’ll see this is the case re: alternative medicine enthusiasts and Trumpism.
Irrational, wishful thinking is a dangerous slippery slope. IMO, rapidly-changing modern life, runaway marketing, and social media make us setups.
You are so right, so much marketing and people lapping up crap
So, pure-hearted snake oil salesmen vs. lying experts, I suppose. Down with authority figures! (Except for those who claim “I alone can fix it. Believe me. . .)
Thank you. I can only imagine what it would be like to be a doc in this situation.
I couldn't agree with this comment more.
I do check out supplements but I’m not a nut. Back in the day (I’m old), Adele Davis wrote a book expounding on the virtue of organ meats. I even talked my husband into trying some liver “nougats.” He heaved at the thought. She died of cancer and I never tried another recipe. Still try to use a little common sense, but science rules.
✨ Well said
Reader Kathleen M. relayed Simon Rosenberg's encouragement for us to become “information warriors.” See Simon Rosenberg's New Democrat Network:
https://www.ndn.org/about/staff/simon-rosenberg
Kathleen also points out that, as we look forward to 2023, we need to be getting ready for 2024!
Ellie, I write because I particularly was struck by the idea of embracing the perception of ourselves as “truth / information warriors.” However, I also would note one area, in my view, that receives grossly inadequate attention is the increasingly accelerated military spending endorsed by both parties that overwhelmingly takes precedence over much needed funding on the home front.
What a delicious phrase, “a skulk of cowards”.
I have been an information warrior for the greater part of my life. Curating the news for friends and family is now my main occupation. You have shown me that this is not only a necessary work, but also a vital one. I am so grateful to you, Robert.
In the🎄spirit of battling disinformation, thanks to Jess Craven for turning me on to checkmyads.org.
You can help in the battle against disinformation and hate speech. They make it easy !
https://checkmyads.org/fox/
Wonderful!
I love checkmyads.org
“…faithless servants and aspiring tyrants” are apt descriptions of the evil that threatens us all, and evil it is. Make no mistake, the money and ideology has been percolating for decades, in an attempt to destroy what they give lip service to loving. Reagan comes to mind; Michael Deaver had him wrapped in a flag and spouting Bull Schitt as he and cronies imported Rupert Murdoch to take the country from Walter (the most trusted man in America) to Rupert (the Goebbels of propaganda). And it all happened under the noses of leftovers from Nixon, Reagan Democrats and democrats who were trying to play by the bipartisan rules. It will take decades for “warriors” for “truth, justice and the American way” to defeat the “faithless servants and aspiring tyrants.”
I didn't know ivermectin was still a "thing"? I've had 3 covid shots, 2 boosters and a flu shot but my younger sister (71 years) tells me ivermectin really works - but only the kind for humans, not horses. Well folks this is the logic you get when you have a sibling who lives in Marjorie Taylor Green's district in NW Georgia. She has been fortunate to dodge covid to date but I don't like her chances should she contract it. Exhausted.
My sister, the RN lives in TX and told me "they've had some really good results with it". Unbelievable. As I told her, they've had good results treating nematodes, not virus.
It’s obvious that sitting Republican member of Congress did not learn anything from the mid term elections. It’s sad and ironic that members like Jim Jordan and Kevin McCarthy both of whom refused subpoena’s and were active participants in the J6th attempt to overthrow the government are both issuing a baloney shadow report and initiating revenge investigations not based on any real evidence but purely vengeance based. They are perpetuating the dysfunctional reality of the Republican Party and confirming their lack of a backbone to once and for all walk away from Trump. Voters in the midterms and now have sent a message that they have “ had enough”. A message that once again is being ignored.
Well said. I guess when you have nothing constructive to offer in the way of policies or projects, you can only attack. When was the last time a Republican proposed anything that would improve homelessness, child nutrition and education, access to healthcare, job training for those displaced by new technology...anything? Protecting potable water supplies and protecting our electric grid...anything? There is a lot that could be done if we focused on it instead of demonizing the other party. Americans are tired of Hunters laptop and Hillary's emails. They are tired of the culture wars and attacks on teachers. They are tired of hate.
Well said!
This happened in 2012 also, so much wringing of hands. Then they decided to double down on the tea party insanity
I remember back in the days when I was a new parent. I was also a new Democrat, wedded to the belief of equality and every individual's divinely inspired inner compass. My two and half year old son was exhibiting some unpleasant and willful behaviors. Luckily for me, I had a friend who was a teacher of special needs preschoolers. She said to me, "If you don't stop those behaviors now, you won't be able to stop them later." I took a brief course in parenting and learned about non-violent discipline such as time out and consequences including chores and helping others. To my delight it worked. Proud to say that son is a pleasant, compassionate adult.
The metaphor is, those Republicans and mean-spirited insurrectionists are children who throw temper tantrums and find delight in harming others. Yes, by all means they need to have consequence; be given community service and time outs...including dismissal from their roles in Congress and for some contemplative time in prison.
Yes! And Manchin’s threat to leave the Democrats because he didn’t get what he wanted is a clear example of this childish and unproductive behavior.
I love your discussion about the "chaos monkey," but I'd posit that it describes Trump even more than Musk. Congress should be rebuilding the guardrails that Trump obliterated by viewing their executive oversight role in that light. I fear, though, that Democrats and Republicans use different definitions of "oversight;" Ds interpret it as, "to oversee," while Rs interpret it as, "to overlook."
Good point!
Donald Trump continues his march to the dustbin of history.
I don’t get the argument for ivermectin that “COVID vaccines are a plot by Big Pharma”. Isn’t ivermectin also a product of big pharma?
Good point! But it is an inexpensive drug that is off patent. So it can be sold as a generic drug at low cost.
So you'd think Big Pharma would argue against it in favor of more expensive vaccine treatments. Or are they already doing this, but ignored by the "true believers"?
I just wonder who is benefitting from hawking Ivermectin?
We’re so happy that you could join us on Saturday’s Holiday Zoom! We all realize how much work we have yet to do and while the odds keep getting higher, so does the number of folks who are becoming engaged, especially the youth vote. One thing we all can do is encourage our friends and relatives not to quit. On Sunday I talked to a relative and she said she’s not watching the news anymore nor reading the paper. She just “can’t take it” anymore. She’s a true blue voter, but burnt out. So let’s be sure we wrap these folks in our proverbial embrace and help them continue in these efforts.
Yes! Agree 100%!
Small note on the Musk poll. It was for followers of Musk only . If it was for all Twitter users the results would have likely been even more against him. I don’t follow Musk and so wasn’t included.
"It's always something."
I find it stunning that DeSantis has not been sued in a wrongful death class-action lawsuit brought against him by loved ones of Floridians who died of COVID because of his disinformation. I mean, he actually waged a disinformation campaign and got ppl killed. And now I find it even more stunning (or stupid) that he intends to wage war against Big Pharma, very large contributors to campaigns. For one thing, he stopped keeping stats - so how does he intend to prove anything? Good luck with that, you white-booted weasel!