Sometimes it's hard to face a truth that you can see, but don't want to believe. However, it's time to wake up now, because failure to do so would be terminal
100%, Martin. A few weeks in, I was sharing with friends and associates my despair that our democracy was dying a quick death (BTW nothing but pushback from them all), and now I feel that the US--as we knew it--is dead. Why? Because (1) take Trump out of the equation, and there is enough power and players to keep it rolling along--maybe even more effectively--and (2) far too much destruction to the system has already been wreaked. Oh, and now (3) government militia (aka ICE) and/or private militias will not let a surrender of power happen. Sorry to all to be such a Deborah Downer, but I feel a deep sense that we are past the point of no return. I will keep doing what I can to keep on pushing back, but I feel that the only way this will shift is if Yellow Dog Republican Representatives grow a spine and/or the adversely-affected Republican masses decide they have been duped and are not too proud to get ticked off. That's the scary thing--I feel that the healing process has to start on their side of the fence. I hope I am so wrong about my bleak outlook. My only counter-thought is that we survived McCarthyism. But this is multiples upon multiples of McCarthyism we are now facing.
Even so, we can't ever stop resisting. For as long as it takes. They have been playing the long game for decades. We must do so as well. Until the end of time, so it seems. This is an eternal struggle. For the believers of good and evil, we must demonstrate the true evil to be what it is. When the deceived have their eyes opened, the tide will turn.
I really hope so, friend! To a delusional person, delusion is truth. That's what I can't tell--will the insanity of this all wane, given our efforts, time, and some realized pain on their part--or not?
Thank you, Greg. The truth can be immensely uncomfortable at times, and in this modern world of instant fixes, this is too much for far too many to comprehend. Nobody likes to be told things are serious, but regardless of whether they hear it from me now, or truth comes knocking on their door as it inevitably will, they will have to face it at some point.
Greg B. I totally agree with everything you said. I'm in my 70's and am beginning to think I'm too afraid and weak (physically and emotionally) to 'fight' this takeover any more. We waited to long; we didn't progress from rallys to sick-outs, the Democrats in the Senate didn't grow spines, and the Republicans lost their backbones from 11/5 on. No one is going to help save us; I wish Europe and every country the USA ever stood behind would return the favor and stand up to this Administration.
Alligator Alcatraz and Masked Gestapo have led me to give up. Not sure what there is to save anymore.
I am facing the truth. It was hard to realize we didn’t have enough votes to destroy him. And yes I love all of our friends. What he is doing to them is appalling to me. I understand the things you have to do to protect yourselves. I encourage you not to visit here. It isn’t safe. Our freedom is challenging. But know this we will stand up and we won’t be like this forever. We will fight this. We have to. Thank you for understanding.
Martin's substack posts are amazing. I think he is the most insightful and well researched of those on substack. And his videos are wonderful. I wish the very few other sustackers of his quality would get to know him and work with him. Not only has he helped his followers understand how all this happened and who's behind it, but he also always has recommendations of what we Americans could be doing to save our democracy.
Mary, you are making me blush. Thank you for your very generous words of encouragement. You have to realise that for many, I'm just an interfering outsider crashing what is a profitable business for many. I have produced video content for six years, a number of which have gone viral, but they did so on their own merit, because no big players have ever given me a leg up. I'm okay with that, I see it as their loss, not mine. Many of the over 200 ads I've created to date are as relevant today as they were when they were made. They always say, you can take a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
Post was straight forward as it should be . No rose colored glasses . We are facing economic and domestic terrorism by a rogue administration, vile and lawless. The DNC is not going to produce the truth tellers needrd to wage the war we are in. We are in a war and need to be asking ourselves the right questions and checking the money trail. Truth tellers and fighters to reclaim America with a new future , free . Let this rage become the storm they never seen coming . 🇺🇸💪
“You can try to convince yourself all day, every day that America is not yet in a constitutional crisis, but the truth is, you’ve been there now for a couple of months at least. Some would argue for years now. America is no longer a functioning Democracy.”
Martin, I really appreciate your perspective and analysis. You had me in your opening analogy of the state the US is in and the predicament that someone in an abusive relationship is in.
The exit plan has to be thought through carefully. Where, exactly to run on that day. That suddenly is the right day to go - where to hide the go bag. Being mentally prepared for the flying monkeys attacks on social media. (Look it up. )
-and what’s happening on a national level. It’s triggering for people who have known the mental captivity of an authoritarian relationship. And it seems to me a lot of those people, the ones that have done the recovery work, are at the forefront of the movement in the streets here.
I’ve seen other writers pay a glancing tribute to this connection between intimate partner violence, and national attempts at intimidation, but yours is the first to really state it so overtly and I appreciate that.
I think it’s a good dynamic for people to be aware of.
Those who dissent will be gaslit
There’s an acronym, DARVO. Most survivors and those who advocate for them understand that term and recognize it when, say, Hegseth or Bondi are interrogated by Congress.
The classic batterers defense , but NO ONE CALLS THAT OUT.
It’s so predictable.: deny, accuse, reverse victim and offender
They all follow this formula : I don’t know what you’re talking about (said with exaggerated rage),
it’s all someone else’s fault
and I’m the victim
works every time, although I think a lot of us see through it because they’ve shown us by deed who they are
One of these days, somebody will name what they’re doing, and then everybody will be able to see it and they’ll have nothing to stand on
I also appreciate your perspective on the American tragedy playing out and how the Democratic Party did their own version of DARVO on stunned volunteers & voters after the election
We have got to become more sophisticated at recognizing some of those classic abusers tactics. These unprincipled defenses are very convincing, whether they’re aimed at an intimate partner or at a whole country.
There is a war of credibility going on here. Who’s believable?
In court, usually the batterer. THEY’RE not beaten down! They also come out of the separation welfare, the survivors with fewer resources than they had going into the relationship.
So, in that way, the analogy holds, too the federal government has all the money and all the weapons
But I think the story of David and Goliath has survived for so many years because there’s a certain truth to it There’s an arrogance that goes along with being rich and well armed, armed with mighty surveillance, as well as weapons to kill bodies
And that arrogance is their Achilles’ heel.
And when I say, arrogance, I mean the Democratic Party old guard as well as the more obvious opponents, who would rather see us all dead and gone
We’re fighting on several fronts and we need to fight back to back, as stalwart allies do, each one taking on a different opponent
A daunting, impossible task.
But insistence and grit have made escape possible for many an abused individual, though a new life seemed out of reach at the time
Wow, Carlotta, what a contribution to the conversation! I could not agree more. My analogy was picked up very deliberately, because it is sadly a metaphor that far too many can relate to. This threat is existential, and ignorance of its composition could prove deadly for those who will become victims of this regime.
We can’t control the outcome. We can only do our best to keep going, because we must not give up. We have been thrust into this reality and we don’t have the luxury of giving up. There are innocent people, kidnapped by masked thugs, put in cages, in god knows where, being tortured, maybe killed, without help, and we cannot turn our backs. They are doing this with our hard earned tax money. We are responsible for it.
Another level of awareness is activated in me with your statement about the people surrounding Biden encouraging him to run again, even though they knew it wasn’t in the best interest of either Biden or the country. All they cared about was hanging on to their little corner of security, power, access, influence, status, etc. That hit me like a ton of bricks. In their greed, they cheated us (We the people) in the most horrific way! They are as guilty of all this destruction and ugly as 45 and his thugs!
Elizabeth, it's a very uncomfortable truth, but it's a reality that raises questions about trust. If you have no trust, how can you ever hope to defeat this cancer?
Democrats have some serious problems to address because they fell into the trap of shifting right to attract independents while throwing the working class under the bus. I want to grab them by the scruff of the neck and shake them, because until they own the failure of 2024, they can't move forward.
I agree but to paraphrase jack Nicholson, They can handle the truth. Too many years of American exceptionalism and propaganda have taken its toll. I can only change my country and guard against the same insidious creep of racism. perpetual victim hood, division, and 'other'blaming seeping into some of my country men and our "supposed leaders".
You're preaching to the choir in my case. Unfortunately I can't help with $. What we need to do is to target those who need convincing. Your content is beautiful and poignant. It needs to be short and directly targeted like an arrow. Let's use the same-only-better weapons (analytica) and tactics to reach the correct people. Is there any way other than $ than I can help? I share, but don't reach many, I am not an influencer and do not have a following. I am willing to work.
I think I made it clear in my footnote, Barbara, this isn't about money, and it's certainly not about profiting from my efforts, because I'm already running at a massive loss. Your support is just as crucial as that of any paid subscriber. At the same time, I am hugely grateful to those who are paid subscribers, as they are the ones who help fund video production and the numerous subscriptions I pay every month to ensure everyone is provided with fact-checked content.
I didn't mean to suggest you were out to profit at all. Only that I want to help, just can't with $, and wish I could join you in the effort. That's what I meant by "willing to work". That's about the only thing I can do to help advance the effort. No intent to imply you are out for $$, sorry if it came off that way.
The fact that they have accomplished a well prepared and orchestrated take over of our government is now clear. The reason does depend on the vote count, which reflects the understanding of facts and expectations of voters, so the cause of that understanding at the time of the vote is important. But the past is gone, and we now are faced with a present during which the rule of law as defined by the constitution, laws and precedent is in taters. This regime is attacking our present and even more our future, with damage to the world. A chance to repair the damage and control the future trajectory is imperative. Even as they destroy the global system that has been led by the USA and Europe (I include the UK etc.), and set up China as the dominant country, we may still have a window of opportunity. I have no political expertise, but hope local, and state organizations can work with global partners to stem the damage. If this could lead to a global leadership to fit the globalized and connected world, there might even be long term benefit. But it may not be possible to use facts to change views, as Trump has proven that telling lies and calling names is a powerful tool, especially when it is said often and loudly. 1984 is now 2025. Big Brother now does have the means to know all and the Ministry of Truth rewrites facts as they want. How do we control the narrative.
Stuart, I wish I had all the answers, but I don't. I do, however, have a very clear picture of the battlefield, and without that, you don't have snowball in hell's chance of winning this war. The problem Dems have at the moment is they are applying outdated rules of engagement that no longer apply because there are no rules anymore.
They do have an agenda, game plan, organization and funding. That is, centralized organization, and they have achieved outreach based on psychological principles using a dystopian reality to augment human attributes such as self worth, greed and insecurity. The techniques of the German Coup, as augmented in 1984, are now realities in 2025. My instinct would be to build a communication platform trusted by the majority to point out the lies most likely to be most vulnerable to reason, and the acts so brutal and damaging to cause doubt in the mind of the voting public before the 2026 election, with the hopes it will flip the house, if the vote is at least partially free and fair. In the USA, perhaps a few trusted individuals will be found and a media platform used to carry the burden, with strong local activities to allow for public participation. The Democratic party would not be my chose for the primary source of leaders, and immigration not the primary lever to use.
The country needs young, intelligent people who understand the direction of the country and the steps needed to change that direction. People who understand what it is like to live in "normal" American and have empathy for those who struggle the most. It isn't enough to look down from your privileged life stile and say I see and understand, because you don't see. You don't understand. You haven't lived it or been touched by it or cared enough to get involved. Today's young do care, do understand and do get involved and that is truly what we need to help America prosper.
Thank you for your contribution Ron and I agree that the country needs young intelligent people, the problem is that the current system largely only provides young intelligent people from privilege, because poor Americans are relegated to an under funded public school. Those that do break through like Deja Foxx are sadly exceptions to the rule.
With the greatest of respect, you know nothing about me, but rest assured I DO NOT come to this from a position of privilege. I grew up in social housing the son of a factory worker. I never went to university because I had to get a job. I have paid for two children to attend university, one of whom I am proud to say is a barrister. I was able to give my children the opportunities I never had by working seven days a week and putting them first, so please don't judge without first obtaining the facts.
After rereading what I wrote, I understand why you are upset. I did not convey I was referring to our elected politicians not to you or your writing. I am sorry and will pay much greater attention to my phrasing.
The educated elites and the political class realize full well what is happening in America. But, until the real world harms manifest and affect the other 75% of Americans, they won't believe what is happening, because they don't have access to truthful media. The harms of stagflation, unemployment, food insecurity, disenfranchisement, and particularly, removal of the social safety net and healthcare will have to become manifest for an overwhelming majority to turn against Trump. Then, we'll see real protest, and the authoritarian crackdown that we all know is coming. There's no way to turn back the clock or go around what is coming in America; we're going to have to go through it.
It's interesting to compare how the US looks from the outside, to how it looks for those of us inside the unfolding crisis. It's clear that to Europeans, Americans seem too complacent, and clueless about how to react to the loss of our freedoms. Americans now are divided into two groups, regardless of political party; those who think American democracy is dead, and think only about how to protect themselves, and those who will never accept an authoritarian takeover of the US, and will fight the regime no matter the cost. I don't think there are a lot of Americans who don't realize the true nature of the crimes being committed by the regime. Americans either think they're powerless potential victims, or they believe they can effectuate change. The underlying death by a thousand cuts of the American middle class and prosperity that caused the 2024 election of Trump have been with us for long enough for every one of us to know what is happening; a far right extremist white supremacist party has once again risen from the ashes of the Civil War and seized the brand of the now dead conservative Republican party, driven out the old Republicans, established a massive propaganda media empire, and proceeded to grift tax dollars from the American people. Corporate and financial oligarchs have quietly bought control of the formerly liberal party, the mainstream media, and online platforms, and caused the Democrats to stand down and quietly accept the takeover of the Federal government, in order to avoid taxation, legalize monopoly mergers, and continue the concentration of wealth in the 1%. In short, the wealthy in the US have weaponized both parties to impoverish Americans for their own benefit. There is a difference in degree, if not kind, between the two, however. Driven by insane eugenicists, the far right extremists want to kill off the poor, while the liberal oligarchs just want to strip the US of it's wealth and keep the poor alive on public assistance. That is the real choice most Americans now face; death by poverty, or a continuation of the status quo of life on barely adequate public assistance.
100%, Martin. A few weeks in, I was sharing with friends and associates my despair that our democracy was dying a quick death (BTW nothing but pushback from them all), and now I feel that the US--as we knew it--is dead. Why? Because (1) take Trump out of the equation, and there is enough power and players to keep it rolling along--maybe even more effectively--and (2) far too much destruction to the system has already been wreaked. Oh, and now (3) government militia (aka ICE) and/or private militias will not let a surrender of power happen. Sorry to all to be such a Deborah Downer, but I feel a deep sense that we are past the point of no return. I will keep doing what I can to keep on pushing back, but I feel that the only way this will shift is if Yellow Dog Republican Representatives grow a spine and/or the adversely-affected Republican masses decide they have been duped and are not too proud to get ticked off. That's the scary thing--I feel that the healing process has to start on their side of the fence. I hope I am so wrong about my bleak outlook. My only counter-thought is that we survived McCarthyism. But this is multiples upon multiples of McCarthyism we are now facing.
Even so, we can't ever stop resisting. For as long as it takes. They have been playing the long game for decades. We must do so as well. Until the end of time, so it seems. This is an eternal struggle. For the believers of good and evil, we must demonstrate the true evil to be what it is. When the deceived have their eyes opened, the tide will turn.
I am certainly not advocating for giving in, Barbara, I just think we have to develop a smart strategy to deal with it.
I really hope so, friend! To a delusional person, delusion is truth. That's what I can't tell--will the insanity of this all wane, given our efforts, time, and some realized pain on their part--or not?
Thank you, Greg. The truth can be immensely uncomfortable at times, and in this modern world of instant fixes, this is too much for far too many to comprehend. Nobody likes to be told things are serious, but regardless of whether they hear it from me now, or truth comes knocking on their door as it inevitably will, they will have to face it at some point.
Greg B. I totally agree with everything you said. I'm in my 70's and am beginning to think I'm too afraid and weak (physically and emotionally) to 'fight' this takeover any more. We waited to long; we didn't progress from rallys to sick-outs, the Democrats in the Senate didn't grow spines, and the Republicans lost their backbones from 11/5 on. No one is going to help save us; I wish Europe and every country the USA ever stood behind would return the favor and stand up to this Administration.
Alligator Alcatraz and Masked Gestapo have led me to give up. Not sure what there is to save anymore.
I am facing the truth. It was hard to realize we didn’t have enough votes to destroy him. And yes I love all of our friends. What he is doing to them is appalling to me. I understand the things you have to do to protect yourselves. I encourage you not to visit here. It isn’t safe. Our freedom is challenging. But know this we will stand up and we won’t be like this forever. We will fight this. We have to. Thank you for understanding.
Wow. Your post gave me good goosebumps. It rang true.
Thank you Kathleen I appreciate your kind words
Martin's substack posts are amazing. I think he is the most insightful and well researched of those on substack. And his videos are wonderful. I wish the very few other sustackers of his quality would get to know him and work with him. Not only has he helped his followers understand how all this happened and who's behind it, but he also always has recommendations of what we Americans could be doing to save our democracy.
Mary, you are making me blush. Thank you for your very generous words of encouragement. You have to realise that for many, I'm just an interfering outsider crashing what is a profitable business for many. I have produced video content for six years, a number of which have gone viral, but they did so on their own merit, because no big players have ever given me a leg up. I'm okay with that, I see it as their loss, not mine. Many of the over 200 ads I've created to date are as relevant today as they were when they were made. They always say, you can take a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
Hi Martin
Post was straight forward as it should be . No rose colored glasses . We are facing economic and domestic terrorism by a rogue administration, vile and lawless. The DNC is not going to produce the truth tellers needrd to wage the war we are in. We are in a war and need to be asking ourselves the right questions and checking the money trail. Truth tellers and fighters to reclaim America with a new future , free . Let this rage become the storm they never seen coming . 🇺🇸💪
Thank you for naming the ‘Elephant’ in the room.
“You can try to convince yourself all day, every day that America is not yet in a constitutional crisis, but the truth is, you’ve been there now for a couple of months at least. Some would argue for years now. America is no longer a functioning Democracy.”
We're walking parallel paths Martin.
Martin, I really appreciate your perspective and analysis. You had me in your opening analogy of the state the US is in and the predicament that someone in an abusive relationship is in.
The exit plan has to be thought through carefully. Where, exactly to run on that day. That suddenly is the right day to go - where to hide the go bag. Being mentally prepared for the flying monkeys attacks on social media. (Look it up. )
-and what’s happening on a national level. It’s triggering for people who have known the mental captivity of an authoritarian relationship. And it seems to me a lot of those people, the ones that have done the recovery work, are at the forefront of the movement in the streets here.
I’ve seen other writers pay a glancing tribute to this connection between intimate partner violence, and national attempts at intimidation, but yours is the first to really state it so overtly and I appreciate that.
I think it’s a good dynamic for people to be aware of.
Those who dissent will be gaslit
There’s an acronym, DARVO. Most survivors and those who advocate for them understand that term and recognize it when, say, Hegseth or Bondi are interrogated by Congress.
The classic batterers defense , but NO ONE CALLS THAT OUT.
It’s so predictable.: deny, accuse, reverse victim and offender
They all follow this formula : I don’t know what you’re talking about (said with exaggerated rage),
it’s all someone else’s fault
and I’m the victim
works every time, although I think a lot of us see through it because they’ve shown us by deed who they are
One of these days, somebody will name what they’re doing, and then everybody will be able to see it and they’ll have nothing to stand on
I also appreciate your perspective on the American tragedy playing out and how the Democratic Party did their own version of DARVO on stunned volunteers & voters after the election
We have got to become more sophisticated at recognizing some of those classic abusers tactics. These unprincipled defenses are very convincing, whether they’re aimed at an intimate partner or at a whole country.
There is a war of credibility going on here. Who’s believable?
In court, usually the batterer. THEY’RE not beaten down! They also come out of the separation welfare, the survivors with fewer resources than they had going into the relationship.
So, in that way, the analogy holds, too the federal government has all the money and all the weapons
But I think the story of David and Goliath has survived for so many years because there’s a certain truth to it There’s an arrogance that goes along with being rich and well armed, armed with mighty surveillance, as well as weapons to kill bodies
And that arrogance is their Achilles’ heel.
And when I say, arrogance, I mean the Democratic Party old guard as well as the more obvious opponents, who would rather see us all dead and gone
We’re fighting on several fronts and we need to fight back to back, as stalwart allies do, each one taking on a different opponent
A daunting, impossible task.
But insistence and grit have made escape possible for many an abused individual, though a new life seemed out of reach at the time
I believe in us - all.
Wow, Carlotta, what a contribution to the conversation! I could not agree more. My analogy was picked up very deliberately, because it is sadly a metaphor that far too many can relate to. This threat is existential, and ignorance of its composition could prove deadly for those who will become victims of this regime.
Keep doing what you’re doing, & so will I! 📣 ✊
We can’t control the outcome. We can only do our best to keep going, because we must not give up. We have been thrust into this reality and we don’t have the luxury of giving up. There are innocent people, kidnapped by masked thugs, put in cages, in god knows where, being tortured, maybe killed, without help, and we cannot turn our backs. They are doing this with our hard earned tax money. We are responsible for it.
Another level of awareness is activated in me with your statement about the people surrounding Biden encouraging him to run again, even though they knew it wasn’t in the best interest of either Biden or the country. All they cared about was hanging on to their little corner of security, power, access, influence, status, etc. That hit me like a ton of bricks. In their greed, they cheated us (We the people) in the most horrific way! They are as guilty of all this destruction and ugly as 45 and his thugs!
Elizabeth, it's a very uncomfortable truth, but it's a reality that raises questions about trust. If you have no trust, how can you ever hope to defeat this cancer?
Democrats have some serious problems to address because they fell into the trap of shifting right to attract independents while throwing the working class under the bus. I want to grab them by the scruff of the neck and shake them, because until they own the failure of 2024, they can't move forward.
I agree but to paraphrase jack Nicholson, They can handle the truth. Too many years of American exceptionalism and propaganda have taken its toll. I can only change my country and guard against the same insidious creep of racism. perpetual victim hood, division, and 'other'blaming seeping into some of my country men and our "supposed leaders".
You're preaching to the choir in my case. Unfortunately I can't help with $. What we need to do is to target those who need convincing. Your content is beautiful and poignant. It needs to be short and directly targeted like an arrow. Let's use the same-only-better weapons (analytica) and tactics to reach the correct people. Is there any way other than $ than I can help? I share, but don't reach many, I am not an influencer and do not have a following. I am willing to work.
I think I made it clear in my footnote, Barbara, this isn't about money, and it's certainly not about profiting from my efforts, because I'm already running at a massive loss. Your support is just as crucial as that of any paid subscriber. At the same time, I am hugely grateful to those who are paid subscribers, as they are the ones who help fund video production and the numerous subscriptions I pay every month to ensure everyone is provided with fact-checked content.
I didn't mean to suggest you were out to profit at all. Only that I want to help, just can't with $, and wish I could join you in the effort. That's what I meant by "willing to work". That's about the only thing I can do to help advance the effort. No intent to imply you are out for $$, sorry if it came off that way.
The fact that they have accomplished a well prepared and orchestrated take over of our government is now clear. The reason does depend on the vote count, which reflects the understanding of facts and expectations of voters, so the cause of that understanding at the time of the vote is important. But the past is gone, and we now are faced with a present during which the rule of law as defined by the constitution, laws and precedent is in taters. This regime is attacking our present and even more our future, with damage to the world. A chance to repair the damage and control the future trajectory is imperative. Even as they destroy the global system that has been led by the USA and Europe (I include the UK etc.), and set up China as the dominant country, we may still have a window of opportunity. I have no political expertise, but hope local, and state organizations can work with global partners to stem the damage. If this could lead to a global leadership to fit the globalized and connected world, there might even be long term benefit. But it may not be possible to use facts to change views, as Trump has proven that telling lies and calling names is a powerful tool, especially when it is said often and loudly. 1984 is now 2025. Big Brother now does have the means to know all and the Ministry of Truth rewrites facts as they want. How do we control the narrative.
Stuart, I wish I had all the answers, but I don't. I do, however, have a very clear picture of the battlefield, and without that, you don't have snowball in hell's chance of winning this war. The problem Dems have at the moment is they are applying outdated rules of engagement that no longer apply because there are no rules anymore.
They do have an agenda, game plan, organization and funding. That is, centralized organization, and they have achieved outreach based on psychological principles using a dystopian reality to augment human attributes such as self worth, greed and insecurity. The techniques of the German Coup, as augmented in 1984, are now realities in 2025. My instinct would be to build a communication platform trusted by the majority to point out the lies most likely to be most vulnerable to reason, and the acts so brutal and damaging to cause doubt in the mind of the voting public before the 2026 election, with the hopes it will flip the house, if the vote is at least partially free and fair. In the USA, perhaps a few trusted individuals will be found and a media platform used to carry the burden, with strong local activities to allow for public participation. The Democratic party would not be my chose for the primary source of leaders, and immigration not the primary lever to use.
The country needs young, intelligent people who understand the direction of the country and the steps needed to change that direction. People who understand what it is like to live in "normal" American and have empathy for those who struggle the most. It isn't enough to look down from your privileged life stile and say I see and understand, because you don't see. You don't understand. You haven't lived it or been touched by it or cared enough to get involved. Today's young do care, do understand and do get involved and that is truly what we need to help America prosper.
Thank you for your contribution Ron and I agree that the country needs young intelligent people, the problem is that the current system largely only provides young intelligent people from privilege, because poor Americans are relegated to an under funded public school. Those that do break through like Deja Foxx are sadly exceptions to the rule.
With the greatest of respect, you know nothing about me, but rest assured I DO NOT come to this from a position of privilege. I grew up in social housing the son of a factory worker. I never went to university because I had to get a job. I have paid for two children to attend university, one of whom I am proud to say is a barrister. I was able to give my children the opportunities I never had by working seven days a week and putting them first, so please don't judge without first obtaining the facts.
After rereading what I wrote, I understand why you are upset. I did not convey I was referring to our elected politicians not to you or your writing. I am sorry and will pay much greater attention to my phrasing.
The educated elites and the political class realize full well what is happening in America. But, until the real world harms manifest and affect the other 75% of Americans, they won't believe what is happening, because they don't have access to truthful media. The harms of stagflation, unemployment, food insecurity, disenfranchisement, and particularly, removal of the social safety net and healthcare will have to become manifest for an overwhelming majority to turn against Trump. Then, we'll see real protest, and the authoritarian crackdown that we all know is coming. There's no way to turn back the clock or go around what is coming in America; we're going to have to go through it.
Thank you for not giving up on us. Your support really means a lot. 🥹 Sending love from across the pond. 🇺🇸❤️🇬🇧
It's interesting to compare how the US looks from the outside, to how it looks for those of us inside the unfolding crisis. It's clear that to Europeans, Americans seem too complacent, and clueless about how to react to the loss of our freedoms. Americans now are divided into two groups, regardless of political party; those who think American democracy is dead, and think only about how to protect themselves, and those who will never accept an authoritarian takeover of the US, and will fight the regime no matter the cost. I don't think there are a lot of Americans who don't realize the true nature of the crimes being committed by the regime. Americans either think they're powerless potential victims, or they believe they can effectuate change. The underlying death by a thousand cuts of the American middle class and prosperity that caused the 2024 election of Trump have been with us for long enough for every one of us to know what is happening; a far right extremist white supremacist party has once again risen from the ashes of the Civil War and seized the brand of the now dead conservative Republican party, driven out the old Republicans, established a massive propaganda media empire, and proceeded to grift tax dollars from the American people. Corporate and financial oligarchs have quietly bought control of the formerly liberal party, the mainstream media, and online platforms, and caused the Democrats to stand down and quietly accept the takeover of the Federal government, in order to avoid taxation, legalize monopoly mergers, and continue the concentration of wealth in the 1%. In short, the wealthy in the US have weaponized both parties to impoverish Americans for their own benefit. There is a difference in degree, if not kind, between the two, however. Driven by insane eugenicists, the far right extremists want to kill off the poor, while the liberal oligarchs just want to strip the US of it's wealth and keep the poor alive on public assistance. That is the real choice most Americans now face; death by poverty, or a continuation of the status quo of life on barely adequate public assistance.