This administration has now labelled undocumented immigrants as commodities to be profited from. Same as it ever was in the land of the free, where nothing is ever free.
Since I’m required to pay taxes every time I turn left or right, sit up, walk, stand or breathe means the money in the Treasury is MY money— therefore I should have a say on how it is spent. If “WE the People” say we want Universal healthcare it is the govts job is to deliver the plan. Without patients hospitals, doctors and pharmacies don’t exist. I’m tired of this tops down BS PERIOD. If y’all can’t do the job get tf outta the way. Tired of govt officials and big companies doing whatever they want— “WE The People” keep all of y’all’ paid‼️‼️‼️‼️
ahhh Rick Scott ,,, he was my Governor and now my Senator . Well everyone listen up !!! You can steal Federal Medicare money and get away with it . 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 It’s a long long arm transaction …push your COO , your CFO , your Treasurer … your accounts receivable clerk , and maybe your receptionist under the bus so you escape untouched . Rick was following the DT model of thievery and grift . Oh ?? Too sarcastic? And imagine after all that … he was just elected to the Senate …. Oh Florida … do you have a clue what has happened? No … nope … we don’t. Is there a legitimate excuse for stupidity ? Seriously ? …. Can we excuse our lack of information , our lack of critical thinking or our lack of moral conviction ? Is there any legitimate reason to say “ well it’s just too abstract” … like quantum physics ? Anyone ???
Have a great weekend Martin ! The beach is great today 😎!
I have felt for sometime that not just one party is at fault for our current problems, but a mix of both parties. We need to reset and do away with the two party system as it exists. The Founding Fathers were never in favor of a two party system as they knew what it could do
I would be nearly impossible to get rid of the system we have now at this point ..wishful thinking but if the Democrats don't get their act together we are in deep trouble
Progress is being made towards enabling a multi party system, so please don’t instill helplessness. It’s hard enough to convince people to fight for much needed, pro-voter reforms.
Of course, of the two major parties, only the democrats are likely to vote for pro-voter reforms. So of course we must elect Democrats in 2026 and 2028. Judges, too!
But that doesn’t mean we can stop educating people about how the system works and why it needs to be improved.
That’s a really interesting interpretation of the intent of this piece. With respect, at this critical juncture, any third party would be a gift to Republicans who are on the ropes. That’s just how to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
There will be no progress without a big win for Democrats I’m afraid. While I think they are in desperate need of change within the party, they are the only game in town and that’s the reality of where we are.
In NC, the libertarians are on the ballot and psyched that “the Republicans have to listen to us” because they have about 3%. They are still spoiler votes, with unreliable outcomes.
We need citizen initiatives, like so many other states (but not the south). We need ranked choice voting and proportional representation.
People need to know more about these reforms now, while still being convinced to vote the Dems in and demand reform.
Of course that’s the reality. But it is not in any sense the solution.
The Forward Party is making measured progress while intentionally avoiding being a spoiler vote. They run “Forward-aligned” candidates, not spoilers.
I’m unaffiliated and more progressive than the FP folks, insofar as I can discern. I see the work they are doing as essential to transforming the duopoly.
The constant, unending assumption embedded in most discourse that the only choices we have are red or blue is not presenting people with the entirety of the solution space.
Do you think it would help if we could change the system by which we elect, install term limits, get rid of lobbyists, ban insider trading (in other words, totally revise the system we currently have)?
It's enough to make one think Republicans are evil, greedy, unprincipled, cynical pieces of shit who want to deprive average citizens of the benefits they've earned to give more tax cuts to the rich, the group to which they all aspire. If they can't be rich they can be servants to that class and deferential as hell like a good butler, cook or gamekeeper. Clearly, under Trump, we see they would rather put a match to the nation's wealth than see it benefit their constituents.
Why is no one talking about the very loosely earmarked $50B for the RHTP? It is definitely a deserved and way overdue investment. However, the narratives around the ending of ACA Covid era subsidies (not only yours), seem to grossly ignore this incredibly huge investment in rural healthcare with quite a bit of discretionary spending room. They don’t seem to acknowledge the funding bill nor the connections between it and where a large swath of the 2/3 of the base you speak of lives.
Maybe it’s just me, but I think it is a very significant talking point. Justified as it may be, I would have thought more voices would be highlighting at least the slight irony in how the remaining 1/3 in Blue and urban areas will quite likely not see or receive such grace. However, admittedly, that is speculation that will be confirmed or refuted based on the “qualified” rural health communities awarded funding, that are slated to be announced on 12/31. Conveniently, that’s the day before the premiums skyrocket. Such an interesting date.
To be fair, regardless of where the $50B in funding allocation goes, nothing will happen quickly. However, once funds are granted, those blessed and deserving underserved communities to receive relief will have something a bit more tangible to “just hold on a little while longer,” and thank God, I mean the current administration, for ensuring.
In short, you are right. Slavery never went away and anyone thinking checkers is being played, has never played chess.
I greatly appreciate your articles and insights. At the end of the day facts matter and perspective reveals depth of understanding.
I am someone and no one with no posts yet, but trusting I’ll be released to share more in time. Not my clock. This straw broke the camels mouth open. I mean back.
You are of course correct, this was not a piece focused on the ACA it is an issue that deserves a piece I. Its own right which I have a draft of. I just wanted to touch on it as part of the economic impact.
Your articles are incredibly thoughtful and glad the perspective was welcomed though agree, not the focus. Just hit a nerve because so many are silent on it and makes one wonder why. I look forward to your dedicated article on the topic. Please keep enlightening!
The ACA is the only game in town for anyone self employed or independent. Republicans have tried so often to destroy it - but failed over and over … because it is a popular program that has helped our nations health care system. And still the only offerings to replace it are “ concepts “ . That 50B ??? Well frankly dear , they don’t give a damn …. About rural America …. Or anyone’s health care system….its not a priority . Americans will die in rural areas where emergency care is an hour away . Fact . The only focus of this admin is stealing tax payers money, grifting foreign country’s and personal wealth of “ the regime “ . I wish there was better news .
Hmm…strangely passionate response. I suppose my point is that what and whom they care about is connected to larger political and economic agendas and $50B is no small change and seems like a pretty big priority to me. Folks weren’t too crazy about the $20-40B that was considered to bail out a foreign nation, so the amount means something to some of us. I was simply highlighting the investment as noteworthy and this post just happened to be one of many I’ve read that highlight the economic pains being caused without some of the major relief efforts that seems to be ahead…for some. If no one speaks of it, no one can confirm or deny the implications behind it. I am sure of it. $50B says they care A LOT! Not about helping people, but using them to advance a larger agenda. I’ll refer you back to the title of this article for reflection. As an aside, responses may be better respected without the “dear” reference. That’s kinda only permitted by my spouse.
The ACA has always been a thorn in the side of the Republican Party… and heaven knows they have voted enough times to try to reverse course . It’s an Obama grudge in my opinion … but the bottom line is that in Florida .. it’s very popular . Can’t speak for other places … the financial commitment to fund rural healthcare is on paper …. But if they were really committed to helping the Rural medical system… we wouldn’t be having a discussion . The money flows when they decide to release it . Do you know allocated FEMA money post Hurricane Maria sat idle almost 1.5 years before it was disbursed in Puerto Rico ? And it was a fraction of what was pledged ?
So yes I share your concerns about rural healthcare … but saying they are allocating 50 billion … doesn’t mean it’s a priority or that it will happen … it means it’s good PR .
And PS … the DEAR word … was a reference back to Rhett Butler to Scarlett … “ frankly dear , I don’t give a damn “ Gone with the Wind … it wasn’t personal … sorry for the misunderstanding. Have a great weekend.
If you haven't read Tad Stoermer, please do. You have a lot in common with him. Hes a professor of American Resistance History at the University of Southern Denmark. He's also on the faculty of Johns Hopkins University but he's on a kind of enforced sabbatical for violating the Furherorder against teaching "un-American ideas." Sound familiar?
He teaches the things we were not taught in school and I personally did not learn the whole story until I began watching Tad's Videos but learned some of it from my study of Socialist history. I doubt if the English schools taught this either. America's dirty little secret.
First, America north of Florida was colon-ized (I heard a British history podcaster use the term on his YouTube videos and felt it so very appropriate.) by, well, basically English White Trash. No offense. These were people caught between agricultural classic serfdom and teh industrial age. When the explorers reported to the Crown what they found sailing up and down the North American Coast, describing verdant forests and vast fields of grass, some wildlife and no people. The Native Americans hid from them having never seen a ship before. Since they did not see palatial estates with manicured lawns and sculpted gardens, the Aristocrats deemed the place a wasteland and decided it was the perfect solution for their waste population. These underccaste people not fit for any kind of work or military duty, were transported mostly by use of chicanery, to come here. And come here they did. But some were not as bad off as others and they made out good. In the south they found at the foot of the Appalachians very fertile soil and built farms which became plantations especially after the Portuguese introduced the British to slavery. Up north, farming was not the best occupation but fishing was as was commercial transportation. There was also enough lumber to build the British Fleet and a fleet of their own. They ultimately formed 13 colonies and their own caste system, including what can best be called untouchables. You see, slavery was not only bad for the slaves, it limited employment for those less educated. Merchants would beat them out of their stores because they seldom had money. They lived on the outskirts of town and dined on clay.
That was the start. For more on this a book called "White Trash The Untold 400 Year History of America."
Well, things between the mother country and the colonies grew tense and some of the now Aristocratic descendants of those early colonists and the 10,000 or so Puritans who showed up not long after Cromwell died and the Monarchists took over, placing a death sentence on all of them. This is where our trouble really began, particularly in New England, and part of the cause of the Revolution.
After the Revolution we formed a weak central government and left the states to do as they wanted. There were some dustups between the states, the Whisky Rebellion when Pennsylvania and Maryland fought over taxes on Whisky transported across the border. Then came Shea's Rebellion in Massachusetts. The farmers in the west of the state who were not Puritans rose up against the Boston Puritans. Before what was left of the Continental Army got there Shea and 3,000 of his followers were slaughtered along with several Native villages. That drove the government into the Constitutional Convention. They hammered out a Constitution, but even with the Bill of Rights Patric Henry got them to append to it, you would not recognize our government from that one. Tad Stoermer tells the details better but to sum it up , our founders traded the traditional Monarchy for an Autocracy of Aristocrats, mostly the slave holders. The mark of citizenship is the right to vote. That and the right to run for office or be appointed an Elector to the Electoral College, to land owners. Read that as rich white men.
Among the Republicans there are some who call themselves "Strict Constructionists" these people want the Original Republic back., as well as their slaves. This Project 2025 is a diligent combination of this idea, classic Puritansim and something called Libertarianism. This is a quack philosophy made up of whole cloth by an economist around 1911 as the Income Tax Amendment was going through ratification to excuse the Robber Barons from paying the new taxes and explain their extreme selfishness.
So here we are today and this is how it started. The quandary is teh Furher took advantage of loopholes designed into the system to protect the Aristocracy from the Rabble. The fascists have been working since Nixon on this and more seriously since Reagan. Getting the Nazis out won't be easy Keeping the next gaggle of Nazis out will be even harder. Democratic Socialists have proposals for programs to benefit the people which are very popular. But getting them around the Supreme Court will be hard, unless we can impeach them. My text to speech program is getting sloppy so I'll read part 3 tomorrow. Sorry this is so long. I'm a psychologist and used to reading and writing 10 page papers.
Since I’m required to pay taxes every time I turn left or right, sit up, walk, stand or breathe means the money in the Treasury is MY money— therefore I should have a say on how it is spent. If “WE the People” say we want Universal healthcare it is the govts job is to deliver the plan. Without patients hospitals, doctors and pharmacies don’t exist. I’m tired of this tops down BS PERIOD. If y’all can’t do the job get tf outta the way. Tired of govt officials and big companies doing whatever they want— “WE The People” keep all of y’all’ paid‼️‼️‼️‼️
All due respect Martin, but I must argue ...
At least in this case, I dont consider your nature so much cynical as it is ... 🤔 factual.
Looking forward to Part III 🙂
Phew, I was hyperventilating after the first line 🤣
😆
ahhh Rick Scott ,,, he was my Governor and now my Senator . Well everyone listen up !!! You can steal Federal Medicare money and get away with it . 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 It’s a long long arm transaction …push your COO , your CFO , your Treasurer … your accounts receivable clerk , and maybe your receptionist under the bus so you escape untouched . Rick was following the DT model of thievery and grift . Oh ?? Too sarcastic? And imagine after all that … he was just elected to the Senate …. Oh Florida … do you have a clue what has happened? No … nope … we don’t. Is there a legitimate excuse for stupidity ? Seriously ? …. Can we excuse our lack of information , our lack of critical thinking or our lack of moral conviction ? Is there any legitimate reason to say “ well it’s just too abstract” … like quantum physics ? Anyone ???
Have a great weekend Martin ! The beach is great today 😎!
You too Bonnie the beach is about 100 miles away from me, we’re lucky not to have a rainy day this time of year.
Indefensible!
I have felt for sometime that not just one party is at fault for our current problems, but a mix of both parties. We need to reset and do away with the two party system as it exists. The Founding Fathers were never in favor of a two party system as they knew what it could do
Good luck with that Charlotte. 2026 will be a true test for Democrats and their vision or will it be lack of vision.
I would be nearly impossible to get rid of the system we have now at this point ..wishful thinking but if the Democrats don't get their act together we are in deep trouble
Progress is being made towards enabling a multi party system, so please don’t instill helplessness. It’s hard enough to convince people to fight for much needed, pro-voter reforms.
Of course, of the two major parties, only the democrats are likely to vote for pro-voter reforms. So of course we must elect Democrats in 2026 and 2028. Judges, too!
But that doesn’t mean we can stop educating people about how the system works and why it needs to be improved.
That’s a really interesting interpretation of the intent of this piece. With respect, at this critical juncture, any third party would be a gift to Republicans who are on the ropes. That’s just how to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
There will be no progress without a big win for Democrats I’m afraid. While I think they are in desperate need of change within the party, they are the only game in town and that’s the reality of where we are.
In NC, the libertarians are on the ballot and psyched that “the Republicans have to listen to us” because they have about 3%. They are still spoiler votes, with unreliable outcomes.
We need citizen initiatives, like so many other states (but not the south). We need ranked choice voting and proportional representation.
People need to know more about these reforms now, while still being convinced to vote the Dems in and demand reform.
Imho. Respectfully.
Of course that’s the reality. But it is not in any sense the solution.
The Forward Party is making measured progress while intentionally avoiding being a spoiler vote. They run “Forward-aligned” candidates, not spoilers.
I’m unaffiliated and more progressive than the FP folks, insofar as I can discern. I see the work they are doing as essential to transforming the duopoly.
The constant, unending assumption embedded in most discourse that the only choices we have are red or blue is not presenting people with the entirety of the solution space.
Do you think it would help if we could change the system by which we elect, install term limits, get rid of lobbyists, ban insider trading (in other words, totally revise the system we currently have)?
I absolutely do Judi. The system is not fit for purpose.
Yes its must be a magic trick by the Republicans to get most of the poor people to
vote for more poverty
It's enough to make one think Republicans are evil, greedy, unprincipled, cynical pieces of shit who want to deprive average citizens of the benefits they've earned to give more tax cuts to the rich, the group to which they all aspire. If they can't be rich they can be servants to that class and deferential as hell like a good butler, cook or gamekeeper. Clearly, under Trump, we see they would rather put a match to the nation's wealth than see it benefit their constituents.
Why is no one talking about the very loosely earmarked $50B for the RHTP? It is definitely a deserved and way overdue investment. However, the narratives around the ending of ACA Covid era subsidies (not only yours), seem to grossly ignore this incredibly huge investment in rural healthcare with quite a bit of discretionary spending room. They don’t seem to acknowledge the funding bill nor the connections between it and where a large swath of the 2/3 of the base you speak of lives.
Maybe it’s just me, but I think it is a very significant talking point. Justified as it may be, I would have thought more voices would be highlighting at least the slight irony in how the remaining 1/3 in Blue and urban areas will quite likely not see or receive such grace. However, admittedly, that is speculation that will be confirmed or refuted based on the “qualified” rural health communities awarded funding, that are slated to be announced on 12/31. Conveniently, that’s the day before the premiums skyrocket. Such an interesting date.
To be fair, regardless of where the $50B in funding allocation goes, nothing will happen quickly. However, once funds are granted, those blessed and deserving underserved communities to receive relief will have something a bit more tangible to “just hold on a little while longer,” and thank God, I mean the current administration, for ensuring.
In short, you are right. Slavery never went away and anyone thinking checkers is being played, has never played chess.
I greatly appreciate your articles and insights. At the end of the day facts matter and perspective reveals depth of understanding.
I am someone and no one with no posts yet, but trusting I’ll be released to share more in time. Not my clock. This straw broke the camels mouth open. I mean back.
You are of course correct, this was not a piece focused on the ACA it is an issue that deserves a piece I. Its own right which I have a draft of. I just wanted to touch on it as part of the economic impact.
I appreciate your input.
Your articles are incredibly thoughtful and glad the perspective was welcomed though agree, not the focus. Just hit a nerve because so many are silent on it and makes one wonder why. I look forward to your dedicated article on the topic. Please keep enlightening!
The ACA is the only game in town for anyone self employed or independent. Republicans have tried so often to destroy it - but failed over and over … because it is a popular program that has helped our nations health care system. And still the only offerings to replace it are “ concepts “ . That 50B ??? Well frankly dear , they don’t give a damn …. About rural America …. Or anyone’s health care system….its not a priority . Americans will die in rural areas where emergency care is an hour away . Fact . The only focus of this admin is stealing tax payers money, grifting foreign country’s and personal wealth of “ the regime “ . I wish there was better news .
Hmm…strangely passionate response. I suppose my point is that what and whom they care about is connected to larger political and economic agendas and $50B is no small change and seems like a pretty big priority to me. Folks weren’t too crazy about the $20-40B that was considered to bail out a foreign nation, so the amount means something to some of us. I was simply highlighting the investment as noteworthy and this post just happened to be one of many I’ve read that highlight the economic pains being caused without some of the major relief efforts that seems to be ahead…for some. If no one speaks of it, no one can confirm or deny the implications behind it. I am sure of it. $50B says they care A LOT! Not about helping people, but using them to advance a larger agenda. I’ll refer you back to the title of this article for reflection. As an aside, responses may be better respected without the “dear” reference. That’s kinda only permitted by my spouse.
The ACA has always been a thorn in the side of the Republican Party… and heaven knows they have voted enough times to try to reverse course . It’s an Obama grudge in my opinion … but the bottom line is that in Florida .. it’s very popular . Can’t speak for other places … the financial commitment to fund rural healthcare is on paper …. But if they were really committed to helping the Rural medical system… we wouldn’t be having a discussion . The money flows when they decide to release it . Do you know allocated FEMA money post Hurricane Maria sat idle almost 1.5 years before it was disbursed in Puerto Rico ? And it was a fraction of what was pledged ?
https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/records-reveal-1-5-years-after-hurricane-maria-fema-had-sent-only-3-3-billion-to-puerto-rican-govt/
So yes I share your concerns about rural healthcare … but saying they are allocating 50 billion … doesn’t mean it’s a priority or that it will happen … it means it’s good PR .
And PS … the DEAR word … was a reference back to Rhett Butler to Scarlett … “ frankly dear , I don’t give a damn “ Gone with the Wind … it wasn’t personal … sorry for the misunderstanding. Have a great weekend.
So glad you could get that off your chest . Breathe … it’s Friday . ☑️ . Maybe you can play chess over the weekend . 👍🏼. 😎.
If you haven't read Tad Stoermer, please do. You have a lot in common with him. Hes a professor of American Resistance History at the University of Southern Denmark. He's also on the faculty of Johns Hopkins University but he's on a kind of enforced sabbatical for violating the Furherorder against teaching "un-American ideas." Sound familiar?
He teaches the things we were not taught in school and I personally did not learn the whole story until I began watching Tad's Videos but learned some of it from my study of Socialist history. I doubt if the English schools taught this either. America's dirty little secret.
First, America north of Florida was colon-ized (I heard a British history podcaster use the term on his YouTube videos and felt it so very appropriate.) by, well, basically English White Trash. No offense. These were people caught between agricultural classic serfdom and teh industrial age. When the explorers reported to the Crown what they found sailing up and down the North American Coast, describing verdant forests and vast fields of grass, some wildlife and no people. The Native Americans hid from them having never seen a ship before. Since they did not see palatial estates with manicured lawns and sculpted gardens, the Aristocrats deemed the place a wasteland and decided it was the perfect solution for their waste population. These underccaste people not fit for any kind of work or military duty, were transported mostly by use of chicanery, to come here. And come here they did. But some were not as bad off as others and they made out good. In the south they found at the foot of the Appalachians very fertile soil and built farms which became plantations especially after the Portuguese introduced the British to slavery. Up north, farming was not the best occupation but fishing was as was commercial transportation. There was also enough lumber to build the British Fleet and a fleet of their own. They ultimately formed 13 colonies and their own caste system, including what can best be called untouchables. You see, slavery was not only bad for the slaves, it limited employment for those less educated. Merchants would beat them out of their stores because they seldom had money. They lived on the outskirts of town and dined on clay.
That was the start. For more on this a book called "White Trash The Untold 400 Year History of America."
Well, things between the mother country and the colonies grew tense and some of the now Aristocratic descendants of those early colonists and the 10,000 or so Puritans who showed up not long after Cromwell died and the Monarchists took over, placing a death sentence on all of them. This is where our trouble really began, particularly in New England, and part of the cause of the Revolution.
After the Revolution we formed a weak central government and left the states to do as they wanted. There were some dustups between the states, the Whisky Rebellion when Pennsylvania and Maryland fought over taxes on Whisky transported across the border. Then came Shea's Rebellion in Massachusetts. The farmers in the west of the state who were not Puritans rose up against the Boston Puritans. Before what was left of the Continental Army got there Shea and 3,000 of his followers were slaughtered along with several Native villages. That drove the government into the Constitutional Convention. They hammered out a Constitution, but even with the Bill of Rights Patric Henry got them to append to it, you would not recognize our government from that one. Tad Stoermer tells the details better but to sum it up , our founders traded the traditional Monarchy for an Autocracy of Aristocrats, mostly the slave holders. The mark of citizenship is the right to vote. That and the right to run for office or be appointed an Elector to the Electoral College, to land owners. Read that as rich white men.
Among the Republicans there are some who call themselves "Strict Constructionists" these people want the Original Republic back., as well as their slaves. This Project 2025 is a diligent combination of this idea, classic Puritansim and something called Libertarianism. This is a quack philosophy made up of whole cloth by an economist around 1911 as the Income Tax Amendment was going through ratification to excuse the Robber Barons from paying the new taxes and explain their extreme selfishness.
So here we are today and this is how it started. The quandary is teh Furher took advantage of loopholes designed into the system to protect the Aristocracy from the Rabble. The fascists have been working since Nixon on this and more seriously since Reagan. Getting the Nazis out won't be easy Keeping the next gaggle of Nazis out will be even harder. Democratic Socialists have proposals for programs to benefit the people which are very popular. But getting them around the Supreme Court will be hard, unless we can impeach them. My text to speech program is getting sloppy so I'll read part 3 tomorrow. Sorry this is so long. I'm a psychologist and used to reading and writing 10 page papers.
Don’t Look Up!