I could clunk some of the DS commentator dummies for saying stupid things like: We want to shut down the prisons; We want to open up the borders; We want to abolish ICE; We want to get rid of all taxation. These blanket statements make it seem like Democrats want utter chaos. Perfect examples of short foresight and no workable solutions.
Professor Erica Chenoweth and Overconfidence in Elections
The following is an excerpt.
“People tend to think the way we create change is through elections, and the result is an overconfidence in elections,” she says. “During election cycles, people divert their energies away from community organization and mobilization in a way that makes it hard to sustain a mode of extra-institutional struggle.”
“One challenge to organization, especially in the Western world, Chenoweth says, is that progressive movements full of freethinkers tend to be fragmented and often internally contentious.
Participants in right-wing movements, meanwhile, are easier to organize because they tend to be more ideologically oriented to following authority.
“In emergencies, people in left-leaning or progressive movements can agree on the problem, so progressive movements tend to rally around a key moment or an emergency,” she says. “But this means they are often reacting to crises rather than taking the initiative or proposing a consensus-based solution to the problem.”
Complicating things further, she says, there is often less agreement in democracies about what exactly constitutes a crisis, and the energy around mobilization for change gets pushed into election cycles.”
Erica Chenoweth illuminates the value of nonviolent resistance in societal conflicts | Harvard Kennedy School
It’s not impossible for him to put troops on the ground in Iran, claim that the situation is too unsafe for an election, and then cancel or postpone it indefinitely. As you said, they’ll do anything to hold on to power.
Well I am certain the aforementioned contains key elements but I absolutely will not read it bc it is way to long. I've 2 masters and PhD but not the patience to read your dissertation. Hopefully you will shorten in the future.
I don’t care how long your post might be - it’s time well spent to absorb every nugget of insight. You are one of the few that I regularly read because you deliver the updates with fact-based articles and reasonable opinions. ICE is a goon squad. My husband is retired LAPD and he has watched the assaults while shaking his head. He recognizes the lack of training with their approach, their take downs and the trigger-happy-no-recognizing-civil-rights of every encounter. They are thugs with no accountability and a thirst for power. The whole lot of them need to be fired, and some prosecuted. Just my opinion, though…. Thanks for all you do to keep the information highway going!
It wasn't my intention to insult you so I apologize. I was merely trying to inform you I regret missing out on the info solely bc of its length. Please know it wasn't a slight but rather a reminder that while your points are important the length, for me, is too cumbersome and to read the information is a missed opportunity.
I will try to choose and use my words more productively in the future. Sorry.
No problem, I do understand the point you are making, but every time I start down the editing of thoughts, the wheels come off the bus, because I feel I haven’t provided the full context for the reader. It’s an affliction I’m afraid. - Martin
ICE has only existed since March 2003, when the Dept of Homeland Decurity was established. Before that we had INS and Border Patrol. I'm mot sure ICE CAN be reformed, given the current institutional culture.
As there was never any proper vetting ICE has way too many damaged people, some of whom should have been turned away from the beginning. IMO the only proper course is to make every member of ICE reapply so they may be vetted the same as would the NYPD or some other legitimate law enforcement function. Not as Marines etc.
I concur, it’s a broken organisation full of far too many people unfit for public service, because this is a public service organisation. I just hate this obsession with slogan politics.
Frustration and shallow thinking spawn the one liners … abolish Ice … defund the police…. Ban blueberries 😳… what ? Nope not a typo …. Lettuce and blueberries are making hundreds sick from food contamination in Florida .
People are unhappy but thinking takes effort …. And our brains are lazy and our bodies are tired of the propaganda, rhetoric, lies and onslaught of bullshit . But I totally agree …. If we don’t take the Congress into a blue majority in November…. Then we are just whistling into the wind . There must be some urgency now . I love Abdul and the new emerging Social Democrats …but the odds against them are great . The money thrown against these leaders by AIPAC and special interest PACs is overwhelming. The lies and classic prejudice will be weaponized against them . They are already being labeled communists. It’s an enormous challenge.
I’ve never been a one party person… as an independent I voted for the best candidate. But that is no longer possible. I will vote blue for every candidate- I’m even identifying judges on the ballot by their party affiliation. Because the courts may be the only branch that can hold the executive branch accountable. We certainly know Todd Blanche isn’t going to follow the constitution or the precedent. There are no rules at the DOJ .
And let’s face it …. Washington DC is preparing for a revolution. The national guard is patrolling every block and the DC police are now acting like the gestapo . Visitors are commenting that visiting the National mall to see the monuments is like walking into a police state … armed , uniformed officers are everywhere.
The WH is fenced off like a prison yard . So I’m guessing they are loading up the ammo and on high alert . Be mentally prepared for violence against US citizens. I fear the worst is yet to come .
ICE as a new agency formed by George Bush and we can deemed a failure. Many of us are older than ICE.
That needs to go no matter what. CBP can be completely reorganized with people that actually follow the law. Most of the people fired that have developed these horrendous habits of torture and abuse.
And over in my corner, today I spent 55 min on phone with health care provider to get answer -not about healthcare! but why can’t I log into my account? And then go to try to clean up the inbox to discover the ‘select all /delete’ button is gone? My annoyance x 5 million pissed people, citizens, clients, or whatever we are , for a problem that didn’t exist 5 years ago, rallies a vast accountability chasm.
As in Network and “I’m made as Hell and won’t take it anymore!!” … but isn’t this me singing to the birds, or pissing in the wind? Would I be better served turning on my hose snd watching water go down a drain?
Just a big dollop of minor overwhelm on top of all the other pots of shit; but an example of galloping ennui from how can I make critical decisions when … name your poison. Sorry, I’ll go weep in a corner.
Thanks for the clarification, the great thing about this platform is you can simply scroll on by and nobody has to be subjected to your rudeness.
Alas, I suppose though that’s the world we are now forced to inhabit? I of course support your right to disagree and to be rude if you feel the need, but what did you gain from it other than to look like an idiot?
I could clunk some of the DS commentator dummies for saying stupid things like: We want to shut down the prisons; We want to open up the borders; We want to abolish ICE; We want to get rid of all taxation. These blanket statements make it seem like Democrats want utter chaos. Perfect examples of short foresight and no workable solutions.
I concur Lisa - Martin
Professor Erica Chenoweth and Overconfidence in Elections
The following is an excerpt.
“People tend to think the way we create change is through elections, and the result is an overconfidence in elections,” she says. “During election cycles, people divert their energies away from community organization and mobilization in a way that makes it hard to sustain a mode of extra-institutional struggle.”
“One challenge to organization, especially in the Western world, Chenoweth says, is that progressive movements full of freethinkers tend to be fragmented and often internally contentious.
Participants in right-wing movements, meanwhile, are easier to organize because they tend to be more ideologically oriented to following authority.
“In emergencies, people in left-leaning or progressive movements can agree on the problem, so progressive movements tend to rally around a key moment or an emergency,” she says. “But this means they are often reacting to crises rather than taking the initiative or proposing a consensus-based solution to the problem.”
Complicating things further, she says, there is often less agreement in democracies about what exactly constitutes a crisis, and the energy around mobilization for change gets pushed into election cycles.”
Erica Chenoweth illuminates the value of nonviolent resistance in societal conflicts | Harvard Kennedy School
Appreciate you!!
Appreciate your appreciation - Martin
No doubt, we have to fasten our sit belts, it will be a bumpy road, as Bette Davis said in “All about Eve”.
The Republican propaganda was built in many years and is much better equipped to fool the fools, they have more experience in both,
being fools and in fooling others. The democrats have been sleeping for a while and some are traitors too, bought with a few silver coins.
But America has still a democratic majority, no matter how many idiots has too.
If it wasn’t like that the others would not be so scared, taking every chance to suppress it, and poring millions into combatting it.
They know, at the end of their roads is a big prison waiting for them all. They fight for their lives, it is logic to be “till the mattresses”!
For sure Hillary lost an election where she had 3 millions more votes because of the manipulation they did in swing states, nothing fair nor honest.
We know now that Trump elections were fake, both of them, and even how, in detail. They will pay millions and rig whatever they can in November.
Still, if we all get out and vote, we can beat them by numbers. If not, a group of snipers would be useful…
It’s not impossible for him to put troops on the ground in Iran, claim that the situation is too unsafe for an election, and then cancel or postpone it indefinitely. As you said, they’ll do anything to hold on to power.
Unfortunately you’re right, but we can only play the cards we are dealt - Martin
Well I am certain the aforementioned contains key elements but I absolutely will not read it bc it is way to long. I've 2 masters and PhD but not the patience to read your dissertation. Hopefully you will shorten in the future.
Thank you for taking the time to lecture me and for the mention of your qualifications to be able deliver the bad news with some authority.
I left school when I was 16 and ran a series of businesses for 50 years. I didn’t have the luxury of a university education.
Substack is a wonderful space in which I am sure you’ll be able to find work to meet your exacting standards.
Meantime I’ll just keep enjoying what I do, but do have a fantastic day.
I don’t care how long your post might be - it’s time well spent to absorb every nugget of insight. You are one of the few that I regularly read because you deliver the updates with fact-based articles and reasonable opinions. ICE is a goon squad. My husband is retired LAPD and he has watched the assaults while shaking his head. He recognizes the lack of training with their approach, their take downs and the trigger-happy-no-recognizing-civil-rights of every encounter. They are thugs with no accountability and a thirst for power. The whole lot of them need to be fired, and some prosecuted. Just my opinion, though…. Thanks for all you do to keep the information highway going!
Appreciate it Alice
It wasn't my intention to insult you so I apologize. I was merely trying to inform you I regret missing out on the info solely bc of its length. Please know it wasn't a slight but rather a reminder that while your points are important the length, for me, is too cumbersome and to read the information is a missed opportunity.
I will try to choose and use my words more productively in the future. Sorry.
No problem, I do understand the point you are making, but every time I start down the editing of thoughts, the wheels come off the bus, because I feel I haven’t provided the full context for the reader. It’s an affliction I’m afraid. - Martin
BTW, I AM 75... AND RETIRED X 2 YEARS.
I do not find it too long at all! She has a heck of the PhD if this is long!
Martín, we the “small people” with or without titles, enjoy your opinion that is always honest and right to the point.
Not to mention altruistic, since you are not involved directly in this mess, as a British citizen!
No need to justify why you do it, we hear you, and we like what you do, and your reasons. 🤗
Ya know, a little bit of arrogance goes a long way. Please restrain yourself 'Ms 2 Masters and PhD' or take it elsewhere.
You are free to listen to it if you cannot read, or pass it all together. No one cares about it anyway.
Too
Thank you 💙
Sure thing.
ICE has only existed since March 2003, when the Dept of Homeland Decurity was established. Before that we had INS and Border Patrol. I'm mot sure ICE CAN be reformed, given the current institutional culture.
Call it what you like, it is still required as a function. Call it Border Patrol if you like, it would still represent a reform of the function.
As there was never any proper vetting ICE has way too many damaged people, some of whom should have been turned away from the beginning. IMO the only proper course is to make every member of ICE reapply so they may be vetted the same as would the NYPD or some other legitimate law enforcement function. Not as Marines etc.
I concur, it’s a broken organisation full of far too many people unfit for public service, because this is a public service organisation. I just hate this obsession with slogan politics.
Frustration and shallow thinking spawn the one liners … abolish Ice … defund the police…. Ban blueberries 😳… what ? Nope not a typo …. Lettuce and blueberries are making hundreds sick from food contamination in Florida .
People are unhappy but thinking takes effort …. And our brains are lazy and our bodies are tired of the propaganda, rhetoric, lies and onslaught of bullshit . But I totally agree …. If we don’t take the Congress into a blue majority in November…. Then we are just whistling into the wind . There must be some urgency now . I love Abdul and the new emerging Social Democrats …but the odds against them are great . The money thrown against these leaders by AIPAC and special interest PACs is overwhelming. The lies and classic prejudice will be weaponized against them . They are already being labeled communists. It’s an enormous challenge.
I’ve never been a one party person… as an independent I voted for the best candidate. But that is no longer possible. I will vote blue for every candidate- I’m even identifying judges on the ballot by their party affiliation. Because the courts may be the only branch that can hold the executive branch accountable. We certainly know Todd Blanche isn’t going to follow the constitution or the precedent. There are no rules at the DOJ .
And let’s face it …. Washington DC is preparing for a revolution. The national guard is patrolling every block and the DC police are now acting like the gestapo . Visitors are commenting that visiting the National mall to see the monuments is like walking into a police state … armed , uniformed officers are everywhere.
The WH is fenced off like a prison yard . So I’m guessing they are loading up the ammo and on high alert . Be mentally prepared for violence against US citizens. I fear the worst is yet to come .
Where would I be without your literary companionship Bonnie?
Sure, it will not be peaceful. You are right.
ICE as a new agency formed by George Bush and we can deemed a failure. Many of us are older than ICE.
That needs to go no matter what. CBP can be completely reorganized with people that actually follow the law. Most of the people fired that have developed these horrendous habits of torture and abuse.
And over in my corner, today I spent 55 min on phone with health care provider to get answer -not about healthcare! but why can’t I log into my account? And then go to try to clean up the inbox to discover the ‘select all /delete’ button is gone? My annoyance x 5 million pissed people, citizens, clients, or whatever we are , for a problem that didn’t exist 5 years ago, rallies a vast accountability chasm.
As in Network and “I’m made as Hell and won’t take it anymore!!” … but isn’t this me singing to the birds, or pissing in the wind? Would I be better served turning on my hose snd watching water go down a drain?
HELLO?
Who ya gonna call?!!?!
Asking for a friend.
I think I need a translator
As in why is this post here?
Just a big dollop of minor overwhelm on top of all the other pots of shit; but an example of galloping ennui from how can I make critical decisions when … name your poison. Sorry, I’ll go weep in a corner.
Thanks for the clarification, the great thing about this platform is you can simply scroll on by and nobody has to be subjected to your rudeness.
Alas, I suppose though that’s the world we are now forced to inhabit? I of course support your right to disagree and to be rude if you feel the need, but what did you gain from it other than to look like an idiot?
I thought she was just venting her overall frustration.
Correct, and idiot she looks! Martin, block the imbeciles, no need to waste your time with them.
Read something else, and do not bother at all.
WOW. SO MUCH FOR ETIQUETTE. SO BE IT. RHATS AMERICA IN 2026.