Trump's incompetence is revealing a broken country — and none of the leaders Democrat or Republican have proposed the kind of systemic change it will take to rebuild it.
"The people in charge don't know how deep the hole is. And if you don't see how deep the hole is, you can't understand the scale of the solution. We need to replace these people. Almost all of them. Not with different brands of the same cowardice, but with people who understand that the United States can't just be a market. It has to be a country. That means reclaiming public power, rebuilding industrial strength, dismantling the extraction economy, and erecting something that serves human beings. Not a slogan. Not a tweak. A political revolution. Because if we don't, we're not just looking at decline. We're looking at collapse."
Reminds me of rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, after it struck the iceberg, and was halfway underwater. This was in 1912. Five years later, in 1917 during the horrors of WW1, there was the Bolshevik Revolution in Czarist Russia. An American version of something like that is (unfortunately) required. A possible future? Listen, or better yet attend, the Fight Oligarchy Tour that Bernie Sanders and AOC are currently doing. These two, and other Progressives like them, are what we need.
Bernie Sanders and AOC are mouth pieces of disinformation. It is their job to appeal to progressives and get them all excited about the changes that are going to come and then step back at the last minute and let Hillary have the nomination, leaving progressives without any choice but the "Cackeler".
Look at Bernie's (and AOC) top contributors and tell me that you seriously believes what (s)he preaches:
The reason most people supported Bernie in 2016 was because they saw what was happening. In fact, remember Obama got the Nobel Peace prize and he won because people knew even then that what is happening today was happening then. Hell, I remember why I supported Ross Perot and tried to help found his Reform party.
Every single time, we were betrayed by members who actually represent the Oligarchy but needed to dilute our influence in the vote.
By now, I sure hope people realize that your vote is meaningless when it is counted by a machine manufactured by a company that is owned by an Oligarch.
Every vote since 2000 (and probably earlier) was won by the organization that cheated best.
Bernie and AOC are symbols. Bernie was ripped off of the Dem nomination in 2016 as it had been promised to Hillary by the Dem political machine. This was done to appease the Clinton's for Hillary's loss for Obama in 2008. Bernie is now 84 years old and has a heart condition. AOC is young and strong. She is the logical person to pass Bernies's torch to. My question is, if not them, then who?
and repeal of citizens united. US politics isn’t just the scene of grey corruption it’s the flow of money determining political realities. the founding fathers were élitists and sought to mitigate against the democratic urges of the populous. in their time only property owning men got to vote. (and slave owning property owners got extra voting power). the entire edifice is built on the notion of white, elitist privilege, no wonder there’s been issues!
I could not agree with you more, Susan. If we had a direct popular vote elect the POTUS and VPOTUS, then the last truly elected Republican would have been Ronald Reagan way back in 1984, which is 45 years ago. There would have been NO Bush Senior, Bush Junior, or Trump administrations. Trump would not have run last year if he had been defeated by Hillary (or maybe even Bernie) in 2016. What a different and better world it would have been, especially today.
We already have a Vladimir Putin and/or Xi Jinping as POTUS now. Trump just loves his authoritarian brethren. What would you recommend? From the left we could use maybe a Vladimir Lenin or a Joseph Stalin? From the right, how about maybe an Adolf Hitler or a King George III of England? We fought a revolution in 1776 to get out from under King George. Now we have King Donald. AIPAC? Trump is letting Benjamin Netanyahu perform mass genocide. Bernie and AOC are a far superior selection in my view.
Thanks for your thoughts, which are not far off target in my view. The thing is, we cannot elect the representatives we need until we reform our electoral system.
That is what Democrats, Independents, and well-meaning Republicans need to advocate: end Citizens United-driven buying of elections; fair House districting and end to winner-take-all in Presidential elections, ranked choice voting, and fair Voter ID--with all citizens receiving tamper-proof 21st-century digital ID's with the capability of changing registration location as people relocate. Puerto Rico and Washington DC Senate seats would be the last piece.
Then democracy--rule by the people--would be possible.
If alienating us from trade partners and military allies as well as deliberately tanking the economy and defying the Supreme Court isn't being a domestic enemy (he swore to defend the United States Constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic) and a treasonous agent, I don't know what is. Grow a set of balls and impeach him, 25th Amendment his ass, throw him in prison. But DO something.
Okay. You realize that Harris, Biden, AOC, Sanders, Omar, Tlaib, and many more are all theists? Discounting someone and insulting them for their faith is the only thing that’s stupid. Don’t believe me? Go ask a philosophy major.
Religion digs itself into healthy society like a tumor into flesh. There is no clear delineation, the insanity is on a gradient. Lots of people have social indoctrination. People who literally believe their religion are demented.
If you actually believe in those stories you are beyond help.
You literally only believe in one less god than atheists do. Do you believe in Zeus?
The social construct of religion is often misused, just as governments are. Or sports teams, or the entertainment industry. The problem is not inherent in the organization itself, but with a lack of safeguards to prevent predators and the power hungry from abusing it.
I am not going to argue my faith with you, because unlike you, I don't feel the need to force others to believe what I believe. I certainly don't go around insulting them over it. goodbye.
"That means reclaiming public power, rebuilding industrial strength, dismantling the extraction economy, and erecting something that serves human beings."
Good post. I was just going to skim, but your good writing brought me in. It's sad that we have ZERO heroes in Congress. ZERO! Most of our "representatives" showed up for Netanyahu's July speech to Congress and gave him 50+ standing ovations ... and if you do the math, 7 Palestinian children were killed while he was making that speech. Worse, ALL of our representatives drank the Kool-Aid about the Ukrainian proxy war, which was NEVER anything more than Operation Ukrainian Cannon Fodder.
The big question before us is this; Are we a democracy or not, and if we are a democracy, why are we not the best?
Half the people in this country believe we are a republic, not a democracy. They do not want to live in a democracy. They do not want majority rule. They are fine with this system, and they would rather see an autocrat fix things than themselves.
So, if we want a true democracy in America, we will have to create a new and fully democratic constitution, one that abolishes minority rule for good. Anything short of this is just histrionics.
I think I would very much prefer "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics".
Michael Hudson doesn't mention China until 1/2 through, but China's last recession was in 1976! And ever since has been growing much faster than the US every year. China has the largest economy in the world.
“We need to replace these people. Almost all of them. Not with different brands of the same cowardice, but with people who understand that the United States can't just be a market. It has to be a country.”
They are not going to go quietly, even if we ask them nicely. For MAGA, not even with votes. So what are we going to do?
Well, the American Oligarchy (and the Brits) financed Lenin back in 1918. (Hmmm... much like they finance al Qaeda and other "Muslim Terrorist Groups".
I would have been more impressed with jeremaid, if the lamentations had include specific instances, e.g., (1) a Congress which exempts itself itself from insider trading rules and Senator Mark Kelly can’t get anyone to help him change it while one of his colleagues attempts to call out Trump for telling people to “buy” during his trade tariff market churn and (2) a Sioreme Court which gave us corporations are persons too, Citizens United vs FEC, and unborn children aren’t. So an assertion without unambiguous examples is a well-voiced oracle of doom, with which the zeitgeist is replete. Thank you…but no thank you,
This particular piece was about the lack of clarity among political and Business Leaders and the specific examples that I used to back up the charge was their quotes if I were riding a piece on insider trading or money and politics then I would definitely have gone with different examples but that wasn't what this piece was about it's about American capacity and the inability of folks that are supposed to be at the helm acknowledging that it's in Decline
Advanced age in Congress is a huge problem. Pelosi did her job for many years. Time to vacate! Grassley was once a real conservative who worked across the aisles. He is like what… 91 years old? Needs to be put out to pasture. Schumer is not that old but he is useless now and has to recognize that no one has confidence in his leadership and that goes for Durbin too. All of them are white. Younger members such as Maxwell Frost, AOC , Greg Casar, Sarah McBride on the Dem side are great examples for encouraging people to vote. Anna Luna on the Repub side has been nutso in my opinion. I do not know of the others but you are right, things have got to change and soon. We cannot wait and I say that as 73 year old white woman who has been fighting against injustices for over 54 years.
"The people in charge don't know how deep the hole is. And if you don't see how deep the hole is, you can't understand the scale of the solution. We need to replace these people. Almost all of them. Not with different brands of the same cowardice, but with people who understand that the United States can't just be a market. It has to be a country. That means reclaiming public power, rebuilding industrial strength, dismantling the extraction economy, and erecting something that serves human beings. Not a slogan. Not a tweak. A political revolution. Because if we don't, we're not just looking at decline. We're looking at collapse."
Reminds me of rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, after it struck the iceberg, and was halfway underwater. This was in 1912. Five years later, in 1917 during the horrors of WW1, there was the Bolshevik Revolution in Czarist Russia. An American version of something like that is (unfortunately) required. A possible future? Listen, or better yet attend, the Fight Oligarchy Tour that Bernie Sanders and AOC are currently doing. These two, and other Progressives like them, are what we need.
Bernie Sanders and AOC are mouth pieces of disinformation. It is their job to appeal to progressives and get them all excited about the changes that are going to come and then step back at the last minute and let Hillary have the nomination, leaving progressives without any choice but the "Cackeler".
Look at Bernie's (and AOC) top contributors and tell me that you seriously believes what (s)he preaches:
https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/bernie-sanders/summary?cid=N00000528
https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/summary?cid=N00041162
The reason most people supported Bernie in 2016 was because they saw what was happening. In fact, remember Obama got the Nobel Peace prize and he won because people knew even then that what is happening today was happening then. Hell, I remember why I supported Ross Perot and tried to help found his Reform party.
Every single time, we were betrayed by members who actually represent the Oligarchy but needed to dilute our influence in the vote.
By now, I sure hope people realize that your vote is meaningless when it is counted by a machine manufactured by a company that is owned by an Oligarch.
Every vote since 2000 (and probably earlier) was won by the organization that cheated best.
Bernie and AOC are symbols. Bernie was ripped off of the Dem nomination in 2016 as it had been promised to Hillary by the Dem political machine. This was done to appease the Clinton's for Hillary's loss for Obama in 2008. Bernie is now 84 years old and has a heart condition. AOC is young and strong. She is the logical person to pass Bernies's torch to. My question is, if not them, then who?
Personally, I believe the first thing that has to go is the electoral college. It prevents democracy.
and repeal of citizens united. US politics isn’t just the scene of grey corruption it’s the flow of money determining political realities. the founding fathers were élitists and sought to mitigate against the democratic urges of the populous. in their time only property owning men got to vote. (and slave owning property owners got extra voting power). the entire edifice is built on the notion of white, elitist privilege, no wonder there’s been issues!
I could not agree with you more, Susan. If we had a direct popular vote elect the POTUS and VPOTUS, then the last truly elected Republican would have been Ronald Reagan way back in 1984, which is 45 years ago. There would have been NO Bush Senior, Bush Junior, or Trump administrations. Trump would not have run last year if he had been defeated by Hillary (or maybe even Bernie) in 2016. What a different and better world it would have been, especially today.
Don't make excuses for Bernie. He knew what he was doing.
AOC knows what she's doing as well. "Sheep herding".
Who should take their place? A Vladimir Putin doppelgänger would be my first choice followed closely by Xi Jinping.
Any politician you know who is in the American MSM is being "sold to you like soap", and (s)he probably has an AIPAC minder.
We already have a Vladimir Putin and/or Xi Jinping as POTUS now. Trump just loves his authoritarian brethren. What would you recommend? From the left we could use maybe a Vladimir Lenin or a Joseph Stalin? From the right, how about maybe an Adolf Hitler or a King George III of England? We fought a revolution in 1776 to get out from under King George. Now we have King Donald. AIPAC? Trump is letting Benjamin Netanyahu perform mass genocide. Bernie and AOC are a far superior selection in my view.
I hope you get your wish...in Russia
Another mediocre white man here to lie to you to cover up how people like him are always the problem 👆
Thanks for your thoughts, which are not far off target in my view. The thing is, we cannot elect the representatives we need until we reform our electoral system.
That is what Democrats, Independents, and well-meaning Republicans need to advocate: end Citizens United-driven buying of elections; fair House districting and end to winner-take-all in Presidential elections, ranked choice voting, and fair Voter ID--with all citizens receiving tamper-proof 21st-century digital ID's with the capability of changing registration location as people relocate. Puerto Rico and Washington DC Senate seats would be the last piece.
Then democracy--rule by the people--would be possible.
About an ugly man who couldn't make the grade?
The news was rather sad.
They say he blew his mind out with a fart.
I saw the photographs. 😵💫
If alienating us from trade partners and military allies as well as deliberately tanking the economy and defying the Supreme Court isn't being a domestic enemy (he swore to defend the United States Constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic) and a treasonous agent, I don't know what is. Grow a set of balls and impeach him, 25th Amendment his ass, throw him in prison. But DO something.
Now that’s tell’n it like it is brother.
Thanks so much Corbin! I write similar pieces but feel relieved of the responsibility today, as this really cuts to the core
This is exactly why corporate democrats tanked the build back better plan. They don’t want a functioning system.
They want exploitation and total control, even if they have to destroy everything to get it.
You have religious scripture in your profile, you're too stupid to be listened to.
But sure, dont blame the folks actively attacking democracy.
Okay. You realize that Harris, Biden, AOC, Sanders, Omar, Tlaib, and many more are all theists? Discounting someone and insulting them for their faith is the only thing that’s stupid. Don’t believe me? Go ask a philosophy major.
Religion digs itself into healthy society like a tumor into flesh. There is no clear delineation, the insanity is on a gradient. Lots of people have social indoctrination. People who literally believe their religion are demented.
If you actually believe in those stories you are beyond help.
You literally only believe in one less god than atheists do. Do you believe in Zeus?
The social construct of religion is often misused, just as governments are. Or sports teams, or the entertainment industry. The problem is not inherent in the organization itself, but with a lack of safeguards to prevent predators and the power hungry from abusing it.
I am not going to argue my faith with you, because unlike you, I don't feel the need to force others to believe what I believe. I certainly don't go around insulting them over it. goodbye.
Humanism is a religion, and I bet you believe that, and you proved yourself too stupid to listen.
Best summation of the current situation I have read. And I read a lot. Thank you.
"That means reclaiming public power, rebuilding industrial strength, dismantling the extraction economy, and erecting something that serves human beings."
Exactly.
Well said.
J.
This was outstanding.
Good post. I was just going to skim, but your good writing brought me in. It's sad that we have ZERO heroes in Congress. ZERO! Most of our "representatives" showed up for Netanyahu's July speech to Congress and gave him 50+ standing ovations ... and if you do the math, 7 Palestinian children were killed while he was making that speech. Worse, ALL of our representatives drank the Kool-Aid about the Ukrainian proxy war, which was NEVER anything more than Operation Ukrainian Cannon Fodder.
The big question before us is this; Are we a democracy or not, and if we are a democracy, why are we not the best?
Half the people in this country believe we are a republic, not a democracy. They do not want to live in a democracy. They do not want majority rule. They are fine with this system, and they would rather see an autocrat fix things than themselves.
So, if we want a true democracy in America, we will have to create a new and fully democratic constitution, one that abolishes minority rule for good. Anything short of this is just histrionics.
I think I would very much prefer "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics".
Michael Hudson doesn't mention China until 1/2 through, but China's last recession was in 1976! And ever since has been growing much faster than the US every year. China has the largest economy in the world.
https://www.geopoliticaleconomy.report/p/michael-hudson-robber-barons-trump-tariffs
In this interview with Alex Krainer gives the best explanation of the US policies over the last several decades I've heard anywhere.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwhqu3uBcxQ
I encourage you to find out who Meyer Lansky was and why Truman gave him a Presidential Medal of Freedom award in a secret White House ceremony.
It isn't that people don't want a Democracy, it's that people don't realize that they are under the political control of criminals.
Bernie's top donors appear to have been pharmaceutical company employees...
How many times does he have to do aLucy tricks Charlie Brown with the football before people wake up...he is nothing but a relief valve
“We need to replace these people. Almost all of them. Not with different brands of the same cowardice, but with people who understand that the United States can't just be a market. It has to be a country.”
They are not going to go quietly, even if we ask them nicely. For MAGA, not even with votes. So what are we going to do?
We are the country. But too many are not engaged or informed citizens.
Well, the American Oligarchy (and the Brits) financed Lenin back in 1918. (Hmmm... much like they finance al Qaeda and other "Muslim Terrorist Groups".
Maybe appeal to Elon Musk?
I would have been more impressed with jeremaid, if the lamentations had include specific instances, e.g., (1) a Congress which exempts itself itself from insider trading rules and Senator Mark Kelly can’t get anyone to help him change it while one of his colleagues attempts to call out Trump for telling people to “buy” during his trade tariff market churn and (2) a Sioreme Court which gave us corporations are persons too, Citizens United vs FEC, and unborn children aren’t. So an assertion without unambiguous examples is a well-voiced oracle of doom, with which the zeitgeist is replete. Thank you…but no thank you,
This particular piece was about the lack of clarity among political and Business Leaders and the specific examples that I used to back up the charge was their quotes if I were riding a piece on insider trading or money and politics then I would definitely have gone with different examples but that wasn't what this piece was about it's about American capacity and the inability of folks that are supposed to be at the helm acknowledging that it's in Decline
Advanced age in Congress is a huge problem. Pelosi did her job for many years. Time to vacate! Grassley was once a real conservative who worked across the aisles. He is like what… 91 years old? Needs to be put out to pasture. Schumer is not that old but he is useless now and has to recognize that no one has confidence in his leadership and that goes for Durbin too. All of them are white. Younger members such as Maxwell Frost, AOC , Greg Casar, Sarah McBride on the Dem side are great examples for encouraging people to vote. Anna Luna on the Repub side has been nutso in my opinion. I do not know of the others but you are right, things have got to change and soon. We cannot wait and I say that as 73 year old white woman who has been fighting against injustices for over 54 years.
Very worth reading and then sharing widely.