In the once-upon-a-time world of a president out of control, he is enabled by a propaganda machine that makes Joseph Goebbels look like an amateur, where is the truth?
I think you have pretty much nailed it. Once Big Money Dark Money took over, it pretty much guaranteed this outcome. It might take generational change before things shift. By then, so much needless suffering…
Bernie Sanders has understood this for decades and proved that millions of Americans want something different.
It seems to me that Bernie Sanders and AOC have been pushing those topics and getting great responses, but little media coverage. If the other Democrats were smart, they would join forces with them! I know Bernie is too old now to run, but he still has a following because he has the right message.
AOC isn’t swayed by corporate money which is why she is considered a fringe or extremist Democrat. The party talks about her being too liberal, but I have argued, why is it too liberal to say that every American deserves healthcare and housing? Why is it too liberal to say that Americans deserve to thrive instead of just surviving? Why is it extreme to call out the Israeli government for genocide of the Gazan people? Because the Dems don’t want to anger corporate America and billionaires. This is why the Dems will never win but may only take back power because the alternative is so much more terrible.
Ezra Klein’s book, “Abundance” is eye opening as well as visionary. We need a group of politicians with this vision within the Democratic Party to have the courage to take over leadership. I believe that Dems care about the people but are tied to their PACS. We need to pressure them into having the courage (together) to stand up for people. This could be a faction within the party to revolt and take over leadership. I think it’s too late to create a new party.
You and I speak the same language and I have read Ezra’s book. This needs to be about a new vision for the Democrats. I like to think of them as People First Democrats. I even did an image
I’m aware is the IDF’s claims that they are forced to kill women and children civilians to beat Hamas, but that doesn’t make it true. They also deny the claims by the UN and the WHO that they have caused famine in Gaza. They have also denied the claim by the International Criminal Court that they have committed war crimes. Israel’s own human rights groups, B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights, have stated that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza-so don’t take it from me!
I disagree on your genocide statement. Israel, specifically the IDF, is not engaging in genocide in Gaza based on the Genocide Convention of 1948 and Rome Statute of International Crimiinal Court definitions and facts on the ground. There is no specific intent to destroy the Palestinian people as group, no targeting of Gazan Palestinians. The intent is to destroy Hamas terrorists. The IDF issues evacuation warnings to Gazan civilians to get out of harm's way to minimize casualties from military strikes on Hamas leaders and fighters and also bombing Hamas' underground infrastructure and rocket launchers. Israel has allowed thousands of tons of aid into Gaza during most of the war, and facilitated administration of polio vaccines to 500,000 Gazans in August 2024. See https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-gaza-genocide-canard/ Gazans are suffering in large part to their "government" of Hamas who hijacks trucks of food aid and shoots at their own people who protest or fail to do their bidding.
I have always voted Democratic and now I wonder why. I was born in a Democratic Republic and I'll most likely die in a fascist shithole. I don't see any real chance of things improving in the time I have left unless and until the Luigi faction has a million more true believers.
I’d like to know who “the Democratic leadership” is. It’s a serious question. It could be it’s not that they come up short on policy, but perhaps that they don’t exist.
I found it telling that Marianne Williamson, after she clearly was the only wise one in programs to showcase candidates for the chair of the DNC, didn’t get one vote from the 448 members. It may not be that there are no huddles among Democratic leadership, but that there aren’t even people in leadership who would accomplish anything if they did huddle.
Have a look at my Substack this week, that’s all about Marianne:
Is Marianne Williamson the most valuable person alive today?
I have a lot of time for Marianne Williamson, I like her vision, but she is locked out of the game. There is sadly no appetite for the radical change required, so it will be forever about shifting the deckchairs around on the deck of the Titanic.
There no going back to career politicians, their corporate allegiance it's not going to change . Will a third party evolve , the democratic party most can't bring themselves to endorse Mamdani .
I wish we had a new party … one not pockmarked by Republicans or Democrats … wishful thinking … as a Democratic voter I have been so thoroughly disgusted with MAGA followers who are so undeniably nasty, vicious, and obnoxious … much like the administration they voted for … meanwhile, I’m thoroughly disappointed with our Democratic leaders … crying for more money yet caving into passing more of Dark Raider’s legislation and policies that strip rights away from human beings on a daily basis … my extra money these days goes to supporting the care and comfort of animals … I doubt my country will recover from the death of democracy before I leave this Life … I just pray my grandchildren will have a free country one day.
We don't need more analysis, we need A COMPELLING ACTION STEP THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT USING SUBSTACK - NOW!!!!!! WE SUBSTACKERS NEED TO ACT NOW - IN A COORDINATED WAY THAT ALL OF US CAN GET BEHIND. I'm SICK OF TALK! WE NEED TO TURN SUBSTACK (and everything else) INTO A COORDINATED ACTION.
I’ve wrote about it at length. The only way to bring the government to its knees is economic disengagement. The U.S. is a consumer based economy. There is no political solution I’m afraid.
Well then we need to economically disengage. Each Substack reader needs to ACT to disengage. And get 10 non-readers to do so also. Please lead or foster an economic disengagement and our participation. How do I eat? Where do I live if economically disengaged? Where's the historic record of successful economic disengagements? I suspect Roger Hallam's expert historic analysis is accurate that 3 1/2 % of the population participating in continued civil disobedience is the only successful method other than active armed revolt. We're getting close to that in the U.S. now - with direct nonviolent action against Trump's military invasion of his own country.
You refer to AIPAC as "the Jewish lobby". This is not accurate. AIPAC is a pro-Israel lobby, not the Jewish lobby. There is a difference. There are many Jewish organizations that do not support what the Israeli government is doing in Gaza. There are Jews in Israel who are protesting what their government is doing in Gaza.
You are totally spot on. I took believe all the things you listed above should be universal human rights. And I have thought for years that the signing of NAFTA into law and thinking that blue collar workers would still support the democratic party was a grave mistake. But, my instinct tells me that this was going to happen regardless of which party was in power. Because, as you said, most Democrats are beholden to corporate interests as well. And maybe NAFTA wouldn't have been so bad if Democrats had developed policies that would have helped people transition into new careers in emerging technology or whatever else, but they didn't do that. I was also dismayed when Obama bailed out the banks in 2008. That bubble should never been allowed to form in the first place. Where were the regulations against predatory lending, ARM loans and mortgage bundling. Has anyone ever read the book "Who Stole the American Dream" by Hedrick Smith? It's all about that. While I believe some regulation is counterproductive, because it incorporates blanket policies that don't provide for any nuance to specific areas or situations, I think that, overall, we need more regulation in this country, not less. Because capitalism is a indifferent beast and only cares about feeding itself without regard to the lives of those drowning in it's wake.
ALOHA.... VINDICTIVE PROSECUTORS ... ARSE HOLES... " TRUMP'S .G.O.P. guardians of pedophilics...RELEASE THE FRICKIN' FILES.... " When people refuse the cool cynicism of despair. Despair is peddled by the right to convince us that resistance is futile, and it is echoed by too many on the left who would rather sit back and say all is lost. CYNICISM asks nothing of us; HOPE demands everything. When people choose to act rather than surrender, that is what keeps democracy alive " ... G.O.P. guardians of pedophilics...“Silence and fear is the tool of a tyrant, wielded to suppress independent thought. Instead of silence and fear, let this moment fuel the fire that already burns at the heart of this place. A fire of righteous indignation at abuses of power. WELA KA HAO.... GOP LAPUWALE....THEY GOT TO BE VOTED OUT....
I think you have pretty much nailed it. Once Big Money Dark Money took over, it pretty much guaranteed this outcome. It might take generational change before things shift. By then, so much needless suffering…
Bernie Sanders has understood this for decades and proved that millions of Americans want something different.
You will get no pushback from me Maya. Democrats are the only game in town and they have no game whatsoever. It drives me insane.
Me too!
It seems to me that Bernie Sanders and AOC have been pushing those topics and getting great responses, but little media coverage. If the other Democrats were smart, they would join forces with them! I know Bernie is too old now to run, but he still has a following because he has the right message.
Great minds think alike Judi.
AOC isn’t swayed by corporate money which is why she is considered a fringe or extremist Democrat. The party talks about her being too liberal, but I have argued, why is it too liberal to say that every American deserves healthcare and housing? Why is it too liberal to say that Americans deserve to thrive instead of just surviving? Why is it extreme to call out the Israeli government for genocide of the Gazan people? Because the Dems don’t want to anger corporate America and billionaires. This is why the Dems will never win but may only take back power because the alternative is so much more terrible.
Ezra Klein’s book, “Abundance” is eye opening as well as visionary. We need a group of politicians with this vision within the Democratic Party to have the courage to take over leadership. I believe that Dems care about the people but are tied to their PACS. We need to pressure them into having the courage (together) to stand up for people. This could be a faction within the party to revolt and take over leadership. I think it’s too late to create a new party.
You and I speak the same language and I have read Ezra’s book. This needs to be about a new vision for the Democrats. I like to think of them as People First Democrats. I even did an image
I’m aware is the IDF’s claims that they are forced to kill women and children civilians to beat Hamas, but that doesn’t make it true. They also deny the claims by the UN and the WHO that they have caused famine in Gaza. They have also denied the claim by the International Criminal Court that they have committed war crimes. Israel’s own human rights groups, B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights, have stated that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza-so don’t take it from me!
Here’s some news to read:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/17/israel-gaza-ethnic-cleansing-palestinian-death-toll?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/07/1165517
https://www.who.int/news/item/22-08-2025-famine-confirmed-for-first-time-in-gaza
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly2exvx944o.amp
I disagree on your genocide statement. Israel, specifically the IDF, is not engaging in genocide in Gaza based on the Genocide Convention of 1948 and Rome Statute of International Crimiinal Court definitions and facts on the ground. There is no specific intent to destroy the Palestinian people as group, no targeting of Gazan Palestinians. The intent is to destroy Hamas terrorists. The IDF issues evacuation warnings to Gazan civilians to get out of harm's way to minimize casualties from military strikes on Hamas leaders and fighters and also bombing Hamas' underground infrastructure and rocket launchers. Israel has allowed thousands of tons of aid into Gaza during most of the war, and facilitated administration of polio vaccines to 500,000 Gazans in August 2024. See https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-gaza-genocide-canard/ Gazans are suffering in large part to their "government" of Hamas who hijacks trucks of food aid and shoots at their own people who protest or fail to do their bidding.
Vision is the key otherwise you keep getting the the same old same old bc there’s no plans for anything different
I have always voted Democratic and now I wonder why. I was born in a Democratic Republic and I'll most likely die in a fascist shithole. I don't see any real chance of things improving in the time I have left unless and until the Luigi faction has a million more true believers.
I’d like to know who “the Democratic leadership” is. It’s a serious question. It could be it’s not that they come up short on policy, but perhaps that they don’t exist.
I found it telling that Marianne Williamson, after she clearly was the only wise one in programs to showcase candidates for the chair of the DNC, didn’t get one vote from the 448 members. It may not be that there are no huddles among Democratic leadership, but that there aren’t even people in leadership who would accomplish anything if they did huddle.
Have a look at my Substack this week, that’s all about Marianne:
Is Marianne Williamson the most valuable person alive today?
https://suzannetaylor.substack.com/p/is-marianne-williamson-the-most-valuable
I have a lot of time for Marianne Williamson, I like her vision, but she is locked out of the game. There is sadly no appetite for the radical change required, so it will be forever about shifting the deckchairs around on the deck of the Titanic.
Put a period after required and let’s have a huddle with some smart people to talk about that. Who are the top few you would invite?
There no going back to career politicians, their corporate allegiance it's not going to change . Will a third party evolve , the democratic party most can't bring themselves to endorse Mamdani .
There’s no ground for a third party to occupy. Much as I don’t like it, Dems are the only game in town.
I wish we had a new party … one not pockmarked by Republicans or Democrats … wishful thinking … as a Democratic voter I have been so thoroughly disgusted with MAGA followers who are so undeniably nasty, vicious, and obnoxious … much like the administration they voted for … meanwhile, I’m thoroughly disappointed with our Democratic leaders … crying for more money yet caving into passing more of Dark Raider’s legislation and policies that strip rights away from human beings on a daily basis … my extra money these days goes to supporting the care and comfort of animals … I doubt my country will recover from the death of democracy before I leave this Life … I just pray my grandchildren will have a free country one day.
We don't need more analysis, we need A COMPELLING ACTION STEP THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT USING SUBSTACK - NOW!!!!!! WE SUBSTACKERS NEED TO ACT NOW - IN A COORDINATED WAY THAT ALL OF US CAN GET BEHIND. I'm SICK OF TALK! WE NEED TO TURN SUBSTACK (and everything else) INTO A COORDINATED ACTION.
I’ve wrote about it at length. The only way to bring the government to its knees is economic disengagement. The U.S. is a consumer based economy. There is no political solution I’m afraid.
Well then we need to economically disengage. Each Substack reader needs to ACT to disengage. And get 10 non-readers to do so also. Please lead or foster an economic disengagement and our participation. How do I eat? Where do I live if economically disengaged? Where's the historic record of successful economic disengagements? I suspect Roger Hallam's expert historic analysis is accurate that 3 1/2 % of the population participating in continued civil disobedience is the only successful method other than active armed revolt. We're getting close to that in the U.S. now - with direct nonviolent action against Trump's military invasion of his own country.
Have any of our Democratic elites made public the math behind The Gerrymandering / Redistricting War of 2025? Crap!
https://thesecondbillofrights.substack.com/p/red-land-blue-flame-democrats-redistricting?r=28v6pr
Something must be done! Help The Second Bill of Rights project establish its 501(c)(3) in September! Donate today!
https://www.secondbillofrights.us/donate
Even if it's $10 or $20 . . . every little bit helps get us there.
You refer to AIPAC as "the Jewish lobby". This is not accurate. AIPAC is a pro-Israel lobby, not the Jewish lobby. There is a difference. There are many Jewish organizations that do not support what the Israeli government is doing in Gaza. There are Jews in Israel who are protesting what their government is doing in Gaza.
You are totally spot on. I took believe all the things you listed above should be universal human rights. And I have thought for years that the signing of NAFTA into law and thinking that blue collar workers would still support the democratic party was a grave mistake. But, my instinct tells me that this was going to happen regardless of which party was in power. Because, as you said, most Democrats are beholden to corporate interests as well. And maybe NAFTA wouldn't have been so bad if Democrats had developed policies that would have helped people transition into new careers in emerging technology or whatever else, but they didn't do that. I was also dismayed when Obama bailed out the banks in 2008. That bubble should never been allowed to form in the first place. Where were the regulations against predatory lending, ARM loans and mortgage bundling. Has anyone ever read the book "Who Stole the American Dream" by Hedrick Smith? It's all about that. While I believe some regulation is counterproductive, because it incorporates blanket policies that don't provide for any nuance to specific areas or situations, I think that, overall, we need more regulation in this country, not less. Because capitalism is a indifferent beast and only cares about feeding itself without regard to the lives of those drowning in it's wake.
ALOHA.... VINDICTIVE PROSECUTORS ... ARSE HOLES... " TRUMP'S .G.O.P. guardians of pedophilics...RELEASE THE FRICKIN' FILES.... " When people refuse the cool cynicism of despair. Despair is peddled by the right to convince us that resistance is futile, and it is echoed by too many on the left who would rather sit back and say all is lost. CYNICISM asks nothing of us; HOPE demands everything. When people choose to act rather than surrender, that is what keeps democracy alive " ... G.O.P. guardians of pedophilics...“Silence and fear is the tool of a tyrant, wielded to suppress independent thought. Instead of silence and fear, let this moment fuel the fire that already burns at the heart of this place. A fire of righteous indignation at abuses of power. WELA KA HAO.... GOP LAPUWALE....THEY GOT TO BE VOTED OUT....