I’m not sure if this was your intention, but I had to laugh (in solidarity) when I read your comment. Thank you! … I’m still giggling … we’ll get through this dark time together my friends.
I've had the thought for the past few years that we need a new economy, a new government, and even a new religion. The current versions don't seem to be adequate for the 21st century. I've also been doing a lot of reading in science which tells me we're on the verge of some earth shattering discoveries in many fields in the next decade or so.
This morning I thought about the Renaissance and how it kick started the Reformation and the drive towards democracy and capitalism. It didn't happen overnight, but things look vastly different now than they did in say 1800. I think we're on a similar trajectory now and that, of course, is going to mean we'll see a lot of push back from the powers that be in just about every field you can think of because it means the end of their domination.
The changes we'll see will put the Renaissance in second place when it comes to progressive movements. It's either that, or the powers that be will put us back in the stone age in a vain attempt to maintain control. Dissidents are the fuel of change and we need to protect them at all costs.
I look around these days, and most people, at least outwardly, look like the actual hippies of the 1960s. Not the more flamboyant types who got photographed a lot, but the folks who just lived that lifestyle every day. Nineteenth-century Bohemians would have felt right at home in mainstream small-town America today.
The ones in the blue suits and red "power" ties, who seem to yearn for the early 1950s (yeach!) are now the odd ducks.
William, you must not be a pessimist! Me neither, I confess to being a silver lining person, which is not easy to be these days. But the positive news is out there: not just the wins against the authoritarian regime that Jen and Norm keep reporting, but also all of the new discoveries in science and medicine, as well as the beautifully creative, open-minded, and justice-seeking attitudes of the younger generations. They give me hope!
Oh, I’m an optimist, but our economy is broken and our science is done purely for profit. As for religion, that’s a long story but I can tell you that we’re only scratching the surface on what this world, and even the universe has to offer. It’s past time for some serious changes in thinking and actions.
Very helpful today. In reference to the corrupt Supreme Court, I sincerely believe that the first and most essential action if we reach Democratic House, Senate, and Presidency is to add 4 seats to the Court. I understand all the counter arguments, but I insist adding 4 seats is the quickest way to reverse all that has gone wrong and completely corrupt. Citizens United, Voting Act, and Presidential Immunity should be re-litigated. Again, I understand the worries for later, but incrementalism in repair of the Court is likely to bog down and fail to achieve what has to be done if we are to right the course of the country. Best wishes in enjoying your son's wedding. You deserve joy and time off.
While "more" is not always "better," I can see the potential of adding 4 seats. I would also like to see term limits for SCOTUS; at least get rid of the dead weight of those few who are so anchored in past bigotry they cannot see how ridiculous and dangerous their views are.
Term limits are probably much easier to push through, so let’s start there (as well as anticorruption oversight), but yes, let’s add 4 seats. Brennan Center has a sound plan. Even if it takes years to get some of this done, we should keep messaging in front of people constantly for as long as it takes.
Given the Senate rules—de facto 60 vote requirement to pass legislation (other than through reconciliation) and the filibuster, such a worthy reform has very little chance of happening. We’re probably going to have to find a different path to fix our utterly corrupt SCOTUS.
It may be in the book, but a concept in the character of Dante and found in The Inferno is 'Giusto Sdegno' - Righteous Indignation. It is an essential component to all dissent. Thanks, Jen, for the book tip and may your son and new wife find much happiness together!
Apropos of Dante, "Midway through the journey of my life, I found myself in a dark wood, having lost the straight path." Aren't we all (or many of the posters here) in that dark wood today? And yet, we rise.
Stephen, I read somewhere that there was a movement in Spain in the 1980s, which inspired the Occupy Wall Street movement, called "Los Indignados," or "the indignant ones." They were protesting the corruption in government at that time, which had led to the national bank's collapse among other calamities.
To the Faux King, the world is a giant kick boxing match. Never stop kicking, Never surrender. Kick long enough and your opponent will become exhausted. Ergo, our foreign policy. And do this to the tune of "Onward Christian Soldiers".
You know, many minorities (for reasons that remain opaque to me) voted for Republicans and are, in part, responsible for the current regime. This "ruling" by the "justices" of the Supreme Court makes no sense when you think about it from a voting perspective. It is all about cruelty and a misguided idea of superiority and entitlement. They are biting off their own white noses to spite their white faces.
The only reasons that I don't care for the term 'ruling' is that it sounds too permanent, and we know that this supreme court doesn't hold with stare decisis, and it smacks of royalty, which this court is not.
Instead of saying "minorities" I would prefer "the powerless." That perhaps more accurately describes the women, poor people, uneducated, and others who were misled and thus made the mistake of voting against their own interests.
I don't agree that all the "minorities" that voted for Trump are powerless -- that draws too broad a brush regarding a large group of people. I would use other adjectives such as misguided, uninformed, and similar adjectives. Some are also racist, ignorant, and anti-"elites,"-- and actually supported the bad things Trump said he was going to do.
You are right, Amy -- most "broad brushstrokes" generalize, and thus miss the exceptions to the rule. Certainly there have been outstanding examples of resistance and leadership from all of the groups mentioned. Hopefully there will be more.
This reminds me of how the regime is just working to wear us down. And many people are already worn down or simply say “it’s not that bad or that it will work out (as Jen notes)”. We are in general so comfy in the US that it takes real work to dissent. Note how many did not get concerned until it directly affected them (ie the price of gas). I’m wondering if there are any ideas in the book that we can put to use right now or all they all just philosophical and historical.
I have always sort of been a dissident myself. Resisting the Trump regime and the Republican congress is not fatalistic. You keep doing what is necessary to get results.
Resistance is NOT futile!
I feel better now about being depressed!
I’m not sure if this was your intention, but I had to laugh (in solidarity) when I read your comment. Thank you! … I’m still giggling … we’ll get through this dark time together my friends.
Inspiring ideas and people, thank you. Congratulations on your son’s wedding!
I've had the thought for the past few years that we need a new economy, a new government, and even a new religion. The current versions don't seem to be adequate for the 21st century. I've also been doing a lot of reading in science which tells me we're on the verge of some earth shattering discoveries in many fields in the next decade or so.
This morning I thought about the Renaissance and how it kick started the Reformation and the drive towards democracy and capitalism. It didn't happen overnight, but things look vastly different now than they did in say 1800. I think we're on a similar trajectory now and that, of course, is going to mean we'll see a lot of push back from the powers that be in just about every field you can think of because it means the end of their domination.
The changes we'll see will put the Renaissance in second place when it comes to progressive movements. It's either that, or the powers that be will put us back in the stone age in a vain attempt to maintain control. Dissidents are the fuel of change and we need to protect them at all costs.
I look around these days, and most people, at least outwardly, look like the actual hippies of the 1960s. Not the more flamboyant types who got photographed a lot, but the folks who just lived that lifestyle every day. Nineteenth-century Bohemians would have felt right at home in mainstream small-town America today.
The ones in the blue suits and red "power" ties, who seem to yearn for the early 1950s (yeach!) are now the odd ducks.
William, you must not be a pessimist! Me neither, I confess to being a silver lining person, which is not easy to be these days. But the positive news is out there: not just the wins against the authoritarian regime that Jen and Norm keep reporting, but also all of the new discoveries in science and medicine, as well as the beautifully creative, open-minded, and justice-seeking attitudes of the younger generations. They give me hope!
Oh, I’m an optimist, but our economy is broken and our science is done purely for profit. As for religion, that’s a long story but I can tell you that we’re only scratching the surface on what this world, and even the universe has to offer. It’s past time for some serious changes in thinking and actions.
Very helpful today. In reference to the corrupt Supreme Court, I sincerely believe that the first and most essential action if we reach Democratic House, Senate, and Presidency is to add 4 seats to the Court. I understand all the counter arguments, but I insist adding 4 seats is the quickest way to reverse all that has gone wrong and completely corrupt. Citizens United, Voting Act, and Presidential Immunity should be re-litigated. Again, I understand the worries for later, but incrementalism in repair of the Court is likely to bog down and fail to achieve what has to be done if we are to right the course of the country. Best wishes in enjoying your son's wedding. You deserve joy and time off.
While "more" is not always "better," I can see the potential of adding 4 seats. I would also like to see term limits for SCOTUS; at least get rid of the dead weight of those few who are so anchored in past bigotry they cannot see how ridiculous and dangerous their views are.
Term limits are probably much easier to push through, so let’s start there (as well as anticorruption oversight), but yes, let’s add 4 seats. Brennan Center has a sound plan. Even if it takes years to get some of this done, we should keep messaging in front of people constantly for as long as it takes.
Given the Senate rules—de facto 60 vote requirement to pass legislation (other than through reconciliation) and the filibuster, such a worthy reform has very little chance of happening. We’re probably going to have to find a different path to fix our utterly corrupt SCOTUS.
It may be in the book, but a concept in the character of Dante and found in The Inferno is 'Giusto Sdegno' - Righteous Indignation. It is an essential component to all dissent. Thanks, Jen, for the book tip and may your son and new wife find much happiness together!
Apropos of Dante, "Midway through the journey of my life, I found myself in a dark wood, having lost the straight path." Aren't we all (or many of the posters here) in that dark wood today? And yet, we rise.
And, like Farinata, I rise above the flaming tomb and cast scorn on the utterly corrupt squatter in the Oval Office!
Stephen, I read somewhere that there was a movement in Spain in the 1980s, which inspired the Occupy Wall Street movement, called "Los Indignados," or "the indignant ones." They were protesting the corruption in government at that time, which had led to the national bank's collapse among other calamities.
To the Faux King, the world is a giant kick boxing match. Never stop kicking, Never surrender. Kick long enough and your opponent will become exhausted. Ergo, our foreign policy. And do this to the tune of "Onward Christian Soldiers".
You don't have to be a christian to be a foot soldier in the Resistance. How 'bout we substitute 'We Will Rock You' instead.
Thanks, Jen. I will look into obtaining this book.
The Callais ruling is indeed callous.
You know you are of a dissident mindset when all those names in the essay were people you already know about and hold in high esteem.
You know, many minorities (for reasons that remain opaque to me) voted for Republicans and are, in part, responsible for the current regime. This "ruling" by the "justices" of the Supreme Court makes no sense when you think about it from a voting perspective. It is all about cruelty and a misguided idea of superiority and entitlement. They are biting off their own white noses to spite their white faces.
The decision (I dislike the word 'ruling') is essentially election and voter meddling/tampering. Aren't such actions illegal?
"Decision" is good. I'll change. I like that.
And yes in answer to your question.
The only reasons that I don't care for the term 'ruling' is that it sounds too permanent, and we know that this supreme court doesn't hold with stare decisis, and it smacks of royalty, which this court is not.
Instead of saying "minorities" I would prefer "the powerless." That perhaps more accurately describes the women, poor people, uneducated, and others who were misled and thus made the mistake of voting against their own interests.
I don't agree that all the "minorities" that voted for Trump are powerless -- that draws too broad a brush regarding a large group of people. I would use other adjectives such as misguided, uninformed, and similar adjectives. Some are also racist, ignorant, and anti-"elites,"-- and actually supported the bad things Trump said he was going to do.
You are right, Amy -- most "broad brushstrokes" generalize, and thus miss the exceptions to the rule. Certainly there have been outstanding examples of resistance and leadership from all of the groups mentioned. Hopefully there will be more.
Yes. I like that.
Wonderful piece, thank you. Congratulations and we will miss you. Till the 12th of May.
This reminds me of how the regime is just working to wear us down. And many people are already worn down or simply say “it’s not that bad or that it will work out (as Jen notes)”. We are in general so comfy in the US that it takes real work to dissent. Note how many did not get concerned until it directly affected them (ie the price of gas). I’m wondering if there are any ideas in the book that we can put to use right now or all they all just philosophical and historical.
Congratulations on your son's wedding.
That is a joy!
I have always sort of been a dissident myself. Resisting the Trump regime and the Republican congress is not fatalistic. You keep doing what is necessary to get results.
You keep doing what is necessary to live with yourself.
I'm sad, and I'm tired. But mostly, I'm pissed as hell. I also must admit to being afraid.
You are not alone, Badgerblue!
Jen, enjoy every moment of your son's wedding with joy, and take a break wherever you are!