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Steve 218's avatar

"“I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.” " (Abraham Lincoln)

And this, good friends, is the root of the problem. Lies. Ever since before the dawn of Faux News, a large contingent of the American people have been indoctrinated with propaganda not based upon truth. They are now convinced that up is down, day is night, and lies are truth. This condition is exceptionally difficult to combat. Currently, we aren't doing too well to change it.

Ricardo Grinbank's avatar

Steve , there real modern push to mislead "we the people" started with Ronal Reagan insisting that the Government was the problem and began to roll down the hill everything that since the earlier 30's made American great. 45 years later, we had rolled down so far that now we are facing the abyss. We are art a point of no return. Collectively we have to find a way to stop the destruction of the Democratic system and start rebuilding it from the ground up, as a more perfect union.

Steve 218's avatar

Exactly so. Note I said "before the dawn of Faux News". Indeed it goes back to Richard Nixon who started people doubting our institutions, and made worse by Ronald Reagan and Newt Gingrich. The rest, as is said, is history.

Eldon Krugman's avatar

I would add Rush Limbaugh and G. Gordon Liddy.

User's avatar
Comment deleted
Feb 12, 2025
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Steve 218's avatar

It's the height of irony that they changed a perfectly named airport to include Reagan's name. It's still Washington National or just National Airport.

We can now say the same thing about the Gulf of Mexico.

Robot Bender's avatar

I was working in the airlines during PATCO. It was a nightmare.

Daniel Solomon's avatar

"And this too shall pass"

I've been sayin' that Hakeem Jeffries can identify about 20 House Republicans who possibly could flip. Three are Cuban Americans from Miami. Here's a letter from a MAGAT, my rep, who represents a majority Dem district.

https://files.constantcontact.com/1849eea4801/cd2e90be-43c8-4171-b3c6-a357621f7db9.pdf?_gl=1*uo1jgf*_ga*MDMwMjhjMzctZTFlNy00YzExLWE3NTEtZGUxMmY1OGY0YjEw*_ga_14T5LGLSQ3*MTczNzc0NTk1My4zLjEuMTczNzc0Njg2Ny44LjAuMA..

Yesteerday I posted a series of letters. I've written her several times. I reminded her about the prooblem with Treasury, and about the Ukraine vs Putin problem. She is a member of the Foreign Affairs committee.

I also reminded her that there are about a million humanitarian visas and most of the sponsors are in Miami, many in her district.

We have two others. Gimenez was our Democratic mayor until 2020 when he flipped for Trump. Diaz Barlart's brother, Jose, is a MSNBC talking head.

We have a Democratic majority, county wide. Psy ops was effective and many Dems voted for Trump and the 3 amigos.

Now thery are screwed.

Please identify all these reps and interview them. Pressure them.

Imagine if all those unhappy constituents and those affected show up every day to protest.

patricia's avatar

imagine if everyone gave a damn and voted....

Steve 218's avatar

Maybe the Australians have the right idea. You can be fined for not voting.

patricia's avatar

I think we need to do this...make it part of the dues for living in America's democracy. some are stupid ,and you need to tell them exactly what to do because apparently they are unable to figure it out for themselves and they have really messed it up for the rest of us. Lets copy Austrailia instead of Russia.

Arkansas Blue's avatar

That letter is way too long. Not even the office help of any politician will bother to read it.

Robert Lastick's avatar

Whatever we do, we had better do it soon!

Steve 218's avatar

As my friends in Minnesota say, "ya damn betcha!"

Mim Eisenberg (NYer now in GA)'s avatar

You mean it's not the Gulf of America? Gee, you could have fooled me!

Irena's avatar

Misinformation is a very real problem. I do not think it helps to pinpoint the "start" of it. Lies are a very common thread in political life, anywhere and everywhere and anytime. We are going through just another cycle of it. Trust is a very scarce commodity; with it goes truth. Difficult times, my friends, difficult times. Perseverance, my friends, perseverance.

Marliss Desens's avatar

I do not see an active link to read the two stories.

Domenica Alioto's avatar

Apologies, friends! It's fixed now but we're grateful to those of you who helped point others to the articles.

It's Come To This's avatar

Thanks for the quick fix.

It's Come To This's avatar

It seems something isn't working this morning....

Eva Douglas's avatar

I watched a you Tube video this morning where he signed an EO with no understanding of the words in the EO. Musk is President. Trump is spokesman for Project 2025.

Duncan Buell's avatar

Not just Lincoln who was born on 12 February 1809. Charles Darwin was born on the same day (same year).

Carol's avatar

Honoring Abraham Lincoln on his birthday is so apt. I had remembered it, and I am glad you did, too. He was, of course, President during the Civil War, that time of history when our country was last divided to the extent it is now. From his wisdom and his heart, he helped bring about an end to that war and reunited our country. This at a time with none of the technology we enjoy today. If that can be done then, it can be done now. Remembering his legacy and our inheritance of that is our key. Thank you!

James Quinn's avatar

We ought to be paying far more attention to Lincoln’s insights then we do. And although the quotes contained in this post are completely relevant, I’d suggest a far more well-known ‘bit’ is even more so.

“Now we are engaged in a great Civil War, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure”.

To many, I suppose, his voice seems to come muted, as from a long distance. Yet at the age of nearly 80, I could have spoken to a man who, had he been in the area at the time, could have heard Lincoln in person. We are also that close.

“It rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us .... that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth.”

I doubt any American ever put it better.

Irena's avatar

I really appreciate uplifting words, so thank you, James Quinn. While we all are horrified by current events, I'd like to look upwards instead of moaning. There have been worse times, and better times. Earlier today I saw on C Span very uplifting civil servants at Capitol speaking up and being literally up. Power, speaking up and courage.

Ginny Brady's avatar

Today is actually my birthday too. It’s been an honor to share it with Abraham Lincoln and thank you for this piece. It is encouraging. I’m 100% behind everything you’re doing. Thank you again.

Cathy Earnest's avatar

We are surely two countries right now. What is the one communication that doesn’t divide us into channels? Billboards. We need to grab up the 350,000 billboards and start a campaign. We ALL see those. And there are more in red states than blue.

Ingrid Nyeboe's avatar

Dropping flyers from above is far more effective. It forces people to pick something up and possibly read it. It worked during WWII —! We need much more direct human interaction. Relying solely on the internet is the death of democracy.

patricia's avatar

I wish...when was the last time you saw an american pick something up ?? There is trash everywhere(quite often steps from a trash can) I'm not sure how this translates to americans being idiots but am sure it does....

go to Europe no trash on the ground ANYWHERE.

Pam Birkenfeld's avatar

I like your idea because I suggested it two weeks ago. Get flyers out and step them in every door

patricia's avatar

problem with that : red states can't read

Carl Selfe's avatar

We are here with you, and gathering in strength. The courts decide what is legitimate and what is illegitimate. That is their job, not JD Vance’s, and the courts are standing strong. Where they need to be backed up, we will back them up by taking to the streets en masse. On every street in which Mump plans to travel, it will not be possible. When they ignore the courts, our first wave of protestors will cross the Rappahannock and the Potomac. We will be in the hundreds of thousands, but only until our reserves arrive after crossing the Susquehanna and the Delaware. Then we will be in the millions. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/peaceful-and-lawful?r=3m1bs

KJustine Moss's avatar

Can you please boost details of the February 17 national day of protest? Some of us plan to be contrary and would like company.

Paul/Kate G's avatar

I’m reminded of a comment from Hubert Humphrey: Never underestimate the intelligence of the people, but never overestimate the level of their [accurate] information.

Richard S's avatar

"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - Kay (Tommy Lee Jones), Men in Black (1997), written by Lowell Cunningham and Ed Solomon

Robot Bender's avatar

There were some great thoughtful lines in that movie.

Sandra VO (Maryland)'s avatar

On another topic that this regime declared as its primary purpose, finding government fraud & abuse, I wonder about these questions too.

Where are the reports of fraud & abuse?

How much $ are we saving for the people because we found it?

How are the people's lives improved as a result of finding this fraud & abuse?

I'm sure there's more we need to find out about this data but I'll leave that to those more privy to these frauds & abuses.

Ingrid Nyeboe's avatar

Lincoln would indeed be ashamed, I imagine, at the degradation of his Republican Party!

Is there anything stopping the convicted felon and his Rasputin musk from simply delaying and delaying responding to the many lawsuits? That’s been his tactic and it was successful EXCEPT in my state NY!

Hal's avatar

"Lincoln would indeed be ashamed, I imagine, at the degradation of his Republican Party!"

I think Washington had it right about how far our country has strayed away from the Founders' vision when he allegedly said, "Me and my homies woulda been stacking bodies by now."

Roxana Robinson's avatar

Help! When I click on the title of an article, all I get is the image, enlarged. How can I read the articles? I am a subscriber. Thanks!

Roxana Robinson's avatar

thank you! But this is only one of the articles. I was hoping to be able to read all of them.

Domenica Alioto's avatar

Sincere apologies, Roxana. That was a Contrarian glitch--the links are now there (but thank you Deborah for sharing the first)!

Justin Sayne's avatar

Let’s Declare our Independence from King Donald, and his Rasputin: Musk!

patricia's avatar

king don the john the first...we need to make sure there is no 2nd

Robert Turgeon's avatar

Today is also the birthday of a man who has had far more influence on human society than Abraham Lincoln: Gregor Mendel, the Augustinian friar (1822-1884). Mendel's work on pea plants provided the foundation for the study of genetics.