Instead of name calling between left and right, we should LOOK UP. Its the oligarchy. It's the power abusers - led by greed - who don't care about the average person. They are the ones who love to see us distracted by issues that don't matter. If you ask people about specific policies and don't label them left or right, a large percentage of people like programs that are good for the people, like Medicare for all, the Department of Education, public investment in infrastructure, etc. Instead we "tilt at windmills". Fight over NOTHING. Politics has set us against one another - exactly where the oligarchy wants us. They use propaganda. And some people fall for it. How can we have conversations with people who have bought the propaganda?
I’d like to focus on the other elephant in the room,the old guards resistance to change. I believe this had to have played a part in Nancy Pelosi’s campaign against AOC. If the presidential election taught us anything it’s that our world is rapidly changing and the old ways no longer apply to American’s wants and needs. Pelosi was a rockstar in her prime and I admire her and her accomplishments, but she’s out of touch. While I truly believe we have representatives in Washington that do have America’s citizens best interests at heart, I also think we can all agree that a lust for power plays a bigger part in what goes on than we’d like. In this polarized atmosphere we need fresh young leaders that can clearly and objectively explain ideas that are currently being demonized by not only the right but the centrists as well. As we fall closer to authoritarianism it truly is time for change.
I agree whole heartedly. Healthcare reform is NOT socialism. It's common sense! Capitalist countries around the world have universal health care. Americans use the word socialism as a catch-all for something "evil". Is healthcare supposed to be available only to the super rich who can afford it? That would be "evil". But how is it evil to allow average citizens access to affordable healthcare?
I am 63 yrs and had been a registered Democrat for over 40 yrs and donated hundreds of dollars to Democrats for the 2024 election. I quit for Democratic Party 3 days ago when they voted for a 75 yr old white man instead of AOC, a highly qualified, respected, popular elected official. Just. Like. Kamala.
The reality is that what makes people vote one way or another is complex, sometimes well-reasoned, but sometimes just knee-jerk. Instead, pundits try to rationalize or categorize results in simpler terms that just don't cut it. Even the terms "liberal," "progressive," or "conservative" mean different things to different people. I prefer not being categorized so neatly. It wastes precious time and resources. Can't we just discuss what policies we think would be helpful or what actions we think the collective government could take to benefit us all? Apparently not. I think you're right about a discussion of containing healthcare costs being popular if it weren't labeled socialist. Same thing for gun control (which most Americans actually favor). Those in power love to create insulting (often false) labels for those they consider their opposition, though. It appears to be effective, unfortunately.
Walter, theres a thousand different things that I could say in response to to this but for the sake of brevity allow me to just say I agree with you entirely.
The question is, what next? How can we - starting with you and I to start- what can we do about that? Political activism is being suffocated under piles of other peoples money. It seems the only voice that matters is the one that funded extravagantly. And that my friend is a tragedy.
Would love to jump on a call sometime to share ideas.
Hi Kevin! Yes, that would be wonderful! You should join in one of my Q&A sessions. Are you getting the links for those? Most of the time I only get one or two people, and I'd love it if a few more of us got together. As for me, I'm just trying to figure things out and writing right now. But you're right, I should brainstorm some more areas of activism, let's do that!
I’m glad to get that feedback. I send out a message on substack to my paid subscribers. It doesn’t come through your email. If you don’t see it on your phone, maybe you see it on the desktop version of substack? If it’s not coming through then I have to rethink this.
Maybe you should include free subscribers! The Democratic Party also offended me in this election by sending so many “surveys” that only get to be counted if you also donate to whatever candidate or cause they are pushing. Along with horrible emails asking if I was now a Republican since I hadn’t responded to the multiple demands for money that followed ma earlier modest donations (all I could afford, bring, as Democrats should know, I’m one of the many who live paycheck to paycheck that they nominally represent.) I got as well endless emails saying this bill or that bill was failing to pass because of people like me who weren’t paying up. So not only do I think the DNC stupidly cheated Bernie out of his primary wins and refused to let him be the obviously winning candidate, I think they are cheating all of us out of fair inclusion and representation every day. All to protect their own power!
I would offer the zoom to free subscribers, the problem is that I can't figure out how to moderate the Bot accounts or the trolls. All of my content is free except the zoom meetings. I like to make sure that the people who have that kind of access to me are serious. I agree with what you say about the DNC.
I do get the messages, But I sadly don't get them in time to get to your meetings. As always I enjoy your writing and I agree what you are saying is true. I have been a fan of Nancy Pelosi until quite recently. It does seem that we like the same representatives likely for the same reasons. NP is making a huge mistake If she is trying to shut out AOC from anything. Aside from being various astute about her constituency and political arena, she is also wellspoken and well written and has something that only one other representative has that I'm aware of, and that is an online presence. AOC has one and Jasmine Crockett also does although AOC spends much more time on hers and actually listens to the people and interacts with them. She is a force to be reckoned with. I'll always want her on my side.
Oops we lost again, why oh why, we should have listened and chosen a more enlightened path instead of the old unsuccessful one. Aren't we silly now. Not impressed, keep messing up like this and we will not have a republic left worth saving by laws and common sense, just force, war, corruption will be our fate!
Thank you, Walter. You have clearly articulated my thoughts regarding the issues that we the people have been facing for far too many years. We have been caught between two political parties that may claim differing positions but end up with similar outcomes.
Unless we acknowledge that Trump is not legally able to be inaugurated as President of this country, due to Sec. 3 of Article 14 of our Constitution, we face the consequences of a lost democracy.
The Democratic Party has a responsibility to fight this critical issue and stop demonizing the progressive side of our constituency.
We owe Bernie Sanders and AOC our gratitude for keeping this issue burning in Lady Liberty’s torch.
In a perfect world AOC should have won for her youth, energy and assertiveness with Pelosi guiding her some of the way with her experience and assertiveness. AOC is still too green and pelosi is too old.
Wait until all the old folks die off, and the younger ones start coming in. That was how Justin Trudeau came in in Canada, and eventually AOC might rise to similar heights.
Instead of name calling between left and right, we should LOOK UP. Its the oligarchy. It's the power abusers - led by greed - who don't care about the average person. They are the ones who love to see us distracted by issues that don't matter. If you ask people about specific policies and don't label them left or right, a large percentage of people like programs that are good for the people, like Medicare for all, the Department of Education, public investment in infrastructure, etc. Instead we "tilt at windmills". Fight over NOTHING. Politics has set us against one another - exactly where the oligarchy wants us. They use propaganda. And some people fall for it. How can we have conversations with people who have bought the propaganda?
I’d like to focus on the other elephant in the room,the old guards resistance to change. I believe this had to have played a part in Nancy Pelosi’s campaign against AOC. If the presidential election taught us anything it’s that our world is rapidly changing and the old ways no longer apply to American’s wants and needs. Pelosi was a rockstar in her prime and I admire her and her accomplishments, but she’s out of touch. While I truly believe we have representatives in Washington that do have America’s citizens best interests at heart, I also think we can all agree that a lust for power plays a bigger part in what goes on than we’d like. In this polarized atmosphere we need fresh young leaders that can clearly and objectively explain ideas that are currently being demonized by not only the right but the centrists as well. As we fall closer to authoritarianism it truly is time for change.
I agree whole heartedly. Healthcare reform is NOT socialism. It's common sense! Capitalist countries around the world have universal health care. Americans use the word socialism as a catch-all for something "evil". Is healthcare supposed to be available only to the super rich who can afford it? That would be "evil". But how is it evil to allow average citizens access to affordable healthcare?
I am 63 yrs and had been a registered Democrat for over 40 yrs and donated hundreds of dollars to Democrats for the 2024 election. I quit for Democratic Party 3 days ago when they voted for a 75 yr old white man instead of AOC, a highly qualified, respected, popular elected official. Just. Like. Kamala.
The reality is that what makes people vote one way or another is complex, sometimes well-reasoned, but sometimes just knee-jerk. Instead, pundits try to rationalize or categorize results in simpler terms that just don't cut it. Even the terms "liberal," "progressive," or "conservative" mean different things to different people. I prefer not being categorized so neatly. It wastes precious time and resources. Can't we just discuss what policies we think would be helpful or what actions we think the collective government could take to benefit us all? Apparently not. I think you're right about a discussion of containing healthcare costs being popular if it weren't labeled socialist. Same thing for gun control (which most Americans actually favor). Those in power love to create insulting (often false) labels for those they consider their opposition, though. It appears to be effective, unfortunately.
Walter, theres a thousand different things that I could say in response to to this but for the sake of brevity allow me to just say I agree with you entirely.
The question is, what next? How can we - starting with you and I to start- what can we do about that? Political activism is being suffocated under piles of other peoples money. It seems the only voice that matters is the one that funded extravagantly. And that my friend is a tragedy.
Would love to jump on a call sometime to share ideas.
Hi Kevin! Yes, that would be wonderful! You should join in one of my Q&A sessions. Are you getting the links for those? Most of the time I only get one or two people, and I'd love it if a few more of us got together. As for me, I'm just trying to figure things out and writing right now. But you're right, I should brainstorm some more areas of activism, let's do that!
I don't recall receiving any invites to a q&a. But I'll keep my eyes open; I get hundreds of emails a day. And a lot slips through the cracks.
I’m glad to get that feedback. I send out a message on substack to my paid subscribers. It doesn’t come through your email. If you don’t see it on your phone, maybe you see it on the desktop version of substack? If it’s not coming through then I have to rethink this.
Maybe you should include free subscribers! The Democratic Party also offended me in this election by sending so many “surveys” that only get to be counted if you also donate to whatever candidate or cause they are pushing. Along with horrible emails asking if I was now a Republican since I hadn’t responded to the multiple demands for money that followed ma earlier modest donations (all I could afford, bring, as Democrats should know, I’m one of the many who live paycheck to paycheck that they nominally represent.) I got as well endless emails saying this bill or that bill was failing to pass because of people like me who weren’t paying up. So not only do I think the DNC stupidly cheated Bernie out of his primary wins and refused to let him be the obviously winning candidate, I think they are cheating all of us out of fair inclusion and representation every day. All to protect their own power!
I would offer the zoom to free subscribers, the problem is that I can't figure out how to moderate the Bot accounts or the trolls. All of my content is free except the zoom meetings. I like to make sure that the people who have that kind of access to me are serious. I agree with what you say about the DNC.
I do get the messages, But I sadly don't get them in time to get to your meetings. As always I enjoy your writing and I agree what you are saying is true. I have been a fan of Nancy Pelosi until quite recently. It does seem that we like the same representatives likely for the same reasons. NP is making a huge mistake If she is trying to shut out AOC from anything. Aside from being various astute about her constituency and political arena, she is also wellspoken and well written and has something that only one other representative has that I'm aware of, and that is an online presence. AOC has one and Jasmine Crockett also does although AOC spends much more time on hers and actually listens to the people and interacts with them. She is a force to be reckoned with. I'll always want her on my side.
I totally agree! Thank you for saying this - it soooo needs to be said. And then ACTED UPON! I’m ready.
Oops we lost again, why oh why, we should have listened and chosen a more enlightened path instead of the old unsuccessful one. Aren't we silly now. Not impressed, keep messing up like this and we will not have a republic left worth saving by laws and common sense, just force, war, corruption will be our fate!
Thank you, Walter. You have clearly articulated my thoughts regarding the issues that we the people have been facing for far too many years. We have been caught between two political parties that may claim differing positions but end up with similar outcomes.
Unless we acknowledge that Trump is not legally able to be inaugurated as President of this country, due to Sec. 3 of Article 14 of our Constitution, we face the consequences of a lost democracy.
The Democratic Party has a responsibility to fight this critical issue and stop demonizing the progressive side of our constituency.
We owe Bernie Sanders and AOC our gratitude for keeping this issue burning in Lady Liberty’s torch.
Oops, that should be “Amendment” not Article. Just not enough coffee…😎
We need a new political party.
In a perfect world AOC should have won for her youth, energy and assertiveness with Pelosi guiding her some of the way with her experience and assertiveness. AOC is still too green and pelosi is too old.
Wait until all the old folks die off, and the younger ones start coming in. That was how Justin Trudeau came in in Canada, and eventually AOC might rise to similar heights.
Ahhh. If wishes were horses...
I appreciate your bullet points
Happier Holidays