"Half the battle for the Ds is convincing them they can make a positive difference in their lives. The other half is doing so."
Unfortunately, the third half of the battle is having elections reflect the will of the population. Structural issues (the Senate favors smaller states, gerrymandering) and voter suppression limit the ability of the majority of the population or even the majority of the voters to get the policies they desire.
I'm 70. I've lived through a lot. Seen a lot. But it's like I woke up today and the entire government is intent on impoverishing me, while the elite swill champagne and celebrate the strip mining of our society. Really, our entire world. For what? Naked greed. Most of these mofos have more money right now than they could ever spend in multiple lifetimes. I've now adjusted my retirement financial plan to account for a 22% reduction in SS benefits. Yippee!
Oh, Jared, I understand your frustration. I have been following this situation from afar, and I feel deeply for all of you. The situation here in Brazil is chaotic as well, but the difference is that the Brazilian presidential election does not impact the rest of the world, which is a relief. I truly hope that you can hold on to hope, even if it feels like small glimmers scattered across the U.S. Hope is important and should be nurtured. You still have a couple of years before the next presidential election, so hang in there, Jared.💗🙏🏻
Thing is, Trump was at 34% in 2020, then reelected in 2014 (and even won the popular vote for the first time). I honestly can't understand people who vote like that, but the idea that any political party or ideology can hold power in the US long enough to make even a small difference seems vanishingly small
1. Had election outcomes been different, I don't believe that the conditions in Gaza would have been what they are today.
2. I'm still trying to reconcile why most of the ire is being leveled at "institutional" Democrats, while the policies and actions of this administration goes virtually unchecked by the faction you mention.
The Democrats are in huge trouble because they don’t have any rational intelligent leaders who think critically and develop and support policies that will help a broad swath of people without hurting and offending many others. Start with the affordability “hoax” and tell people the facts. The median real income in the US is 55% higher over my lifetime and this is in reality a large understatement because the real cost of true needs has gone down even more. Only one thing costs significantly more in real terms, healthcare, which has gone roughly from 5% of GDP to ~20%. Food at home, nearly every needed household item (needed clothing, furniture, appliances, …), required energy, … has gone down in real cost. The Democrats today blame income inequality on the “rich” even though income and wealth are different and don’t even have the same dimensions (flow vs. stock “measured” by last trade at margin regardless of volume) when the data show that it is the rise in the real income of the top 20-22% of workers that, integrated across that population, has captured the largest share of the upward shift in income distribution: the relative increase in the income of the top 1%, 0.1% is close to the same as top 20%. The facts are that redistribution through tax and benefits has increased to its highest level in history with real effective tax rates for high income workers of 50+% in many states.
Tell people the truth. Income inequality has increased, not because the so called rich are manipulating the system but because the upper middle class has grown substantially in relative terms. Largely this has benefited those contributing more to real growth, the generators and users of intellectual capital, over those who contribute primarily physical labor. This is a natural consequence of a society where ca. 80% of production and consumption is for wants and not needs and where more complex economic structures are needed throughout the modern world. There is one critical issue for government to address, healthcare. It currently is ca. near 20% of the economy and employment and as science and technology improve it can only increase. In contrast to most economic issues there is no viable free market solution because the “consumer” isn’t making a decision (do I want the blue shirt or the red shirt or no shirt). A competent political party would focus on the single dominant economic and social issue today, healthcare, and tell people the truth that most of the affordability crisis is a hoax based on real facts and mathematics.
It's sobering that what led to Trump's highest disapproval levels so far are not gargantuan levels of corruption, or ineptitude, or his obvious racism and misogyny; but the high price of gas and diesel and their effects on affordable living. That blinkered vision reminds me of the attitude that fascism is okay as long as the trains run on time.
Possibly of interest with today's discussion of democratic socialism in the Democratic party:
This Firing Line, that just aired, with an interview of Melat Kiros, the democratic socialist who just won the Colorado House nomination for the Democratic Party in the primary.
When Jewish peace activists were murdered by a member of a radical DSA caucus and the national DSA was asked to disown that caucus, they in effect said “no, we have no enemies on our left and we show solidarity with them all”
Be damn careful getting in bed with the DSA, they care about a lot more than “workers getting a bigger piece of the pie”
"...unchecked president is barely [less than] half-way through a term.." I know it seems longer, but Trump has only been in office just over 18 months.
Thank you for providing glimmers of hope. An old wisdom is when things are bottomed/awful...there's only one way to go..up!? But We don't know when UP will be. I agree with other comments that help on HEALTH CARE costs is the message that will SELL...and sell it to household incomes of $85,000 or less annually. OOP caps seem reasonable to try to give people hope even if continuing ACA.
DSA seeks power so that they can force their view of economic justice on one and all. Read the platform. They are illiberal as are MAGA. They want to 'abolish billionaires' with no idea of how to do it. They want the state to build and own housing so that they can mete out favors to those with the correct values.
You make a good point about how the dems have to convince voters that they are the better choice when it comes to helping the country. However, I would also add that Dems need to clearly demonstrate what they plan to do and how, and not just spout empty slogans.
The DSA bros have pulled out incredible numbers of younger voters who knocked on doors and defeated middle of the road incumbents; however, in democratic primaries… will they chase away that middle 40% that determines election outcomes?
What would a divided Congress or even a Democratic Congress achieve? If the bubble bursts with a Trump White House and a Democratic Congress will the nation survive? The recent release of the Homeric Fable is timely …
"Half the battle for the Ds is convincing them they can make a positive difference in their lives. The other half is doing so."
Unfortunately, the third half of the battle is having elections reflect the will of the population. Structural issues (the Senate favors smaller states, gerrymandering) and voter suppression limit the ability of the majority of the population or even the majority of the voters to get the policies they desire.
I'm 70. I've lived through a lot. Seen a lot. But it's like I woke up today and the entire government is intent on impoverishing me, while the elite swill champagne and celebrate the strip mining of our society. Really, our entire world. For what? Naked greed. Most of these mofos have more money right now than they could ever spend in multiple lifetimes. I've now adjusted my retirement financial plan to account for a 22% reduction in SS benefits. Yippee!
Oh, Jared, I understand your frustration. I have been following this situation from afar, and I feel deeply for all of you. The situation here in Brazil is chaotic as well, but the difference is that the Brazilian presidential election does not impact the rest of the world, which is a relief. I truly hope that you can hold on to hope, even if it feels like small glimmers scattered across the U.S. Hope is important and should be nurtured. You still have a couple of years before the next presidential election, so hang in there, Jared.💗🙏🏻
Thing is, Trump was at 34% in 2020, then reelected in 2014 (and even won the popular vote for the first time). I honestly can't understand people who vote like that, but the idea that any political party or ideology can hold power in the US long enough to make even a small difference seems vanishingly small
Two observations...
1. Had election outcomes been different, I don't believe that the conditions in Gaza would have been what they are today.
2. I'm still trying to reconcile why most of the ire is being leveled at "institutional" Democrats, while the policies and actions of this administration goes virtually unchecked by the faction you mention.
Nor the staggering folly of attacking Iran without thinking through the consequences.
The Democrats are in huge trouble because they don’t have any rational intelligent leaders who think critically and develop and support policies that will help a broad swath of people without hurting and offending many others. Start with the affordability “hoax” and tell people the facts. The median real income in the US is 55% higher over my lifetime and this is in reality a large understatement because the real cost of true needs has gone down even more. Only one thing costs significantly more in real terms, healthcare, which has gone roughly from 5% of GDP to ~20%. Food at home, nearly every needed household item (needed clothing, furniture, appliances, …), required energy, … has gone down in real cost. The Democrats today blame income inequality on the “rich” even though income and wealth are different and don’t even have the same dimensions (flow vs. stock “measured” by last trade at margin regardless of volume) when the data show that it is the rise in the real income of the top 20-22% of workers that, integrated across that population, has captured the largest share of the upward shift in income distribution: the relative increase in the income of the top 1%, 0.1% is close to the same as top 20%. The facts are that redistribution through tax and benefits has increased to its highest level in history with real effective tax rates for high income workers of 50+% in many states.
Tell people the truth. Income inequality has increased, not because the so called rich are manipulating the system but because the upper middle class has grown substantially in relative terms. Largely this has benefited those contributing more to real growth, the generators and users of intellectual capital, over those who contribute primarily physical labor. This is a natural consequence of a society where ca. 80% of production and consumption is for wants and not needs and where more complex economic structures are needed throughout the modern world. There is one critical issue for government to address, healthcare. It currently is ca. near 20% of the economy and employment and as science and technology improve it can only increase. In contrast to most economic issues there is no viable free market solution because the “consumer” isn’t making a decision (do I want the blue shirt or the red shirt or no shirt). A competent political party would focus on the single dominant economic and social issue today, healthcare, and tell people the truth that most of the affordability crisis is a hoax based on real facts and mathematics.
It's sobering that what led to Trump's highest disapproval levels so far are not gargantuan levels of corruption, or ineptitude, or his obvious racism and misogyny; but the high price of gas and diesel and their effects on affordable living. That blinkered vision reminds me of the attitude that fascism is okay as long as the trains run on time.
Possibly of interest with today's discussion of democratic socialism in the Democratic party:
This Firing Line, that just aired, with an interview of Melat Kiros, the democratic socialist who just won the Colorado House nomination for the Democratic Party in the primary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs3rR0J4oHg
(It might be that JB and Margaret Hoover, who hosts Firing Line, are coordinating here, to provide high-quality discourse. 😊)
The simplest way for Democrats to deliver would just be to reverse all the stupid stuff he's doing that's sinking him in the polls.
When Jewish peace activists were murdered by a member of a radical DSA caucus and the national DSA was asked to disown that caucus, they in effect said “no, we have no enemies on our left and we show solidarity with them all”
Be damn careful getting in bed with the DSA, they care about a lot more than “workers getting a bigger piece of the pie”
Dear Jared re wishful thinking typo,
"...unchecked president is barely [less than] half-way through a term.." I know it seems longer, but Trump has only been in office just over 18 months.
Thank you for providing glimmers of hope. An old wisdom is when things are bottomed/awful...there's only one way to go..up!? But We don't know when UP will be. I agree with other comments that help on HEALTH CARE costs is the message that will SELL...and sell it to household incomes of $85,000 or less annually. OOP caps seem reasonable to try to give people hope even if continuing ACA.
DSA seeks power so that they can force their view of economic justice on one and all. Read the platform. They are illiberal as are MAGA. They want to 'abolish billionaires' with no idea of how to do it. They want the state to build and own housing so that they can mete out favors to those with the correct values.
You make a good point about how the dems have to convince voters that they are the better choice when it comes to helping the country. However, I would also add that Dems need to clearly demonstrate what they plan to do and how, and not just spout empty slogans.
The DSA bros have pulled out incredible numbers of younger voters who knocked on doors and defeated middle of the road incumbents; however, in democratic primaries… will they chase away that middle 40% that determines election outcomes?
What would a divided Congress or even a Democratic Congress achieve? If the bubble bursts with a Trump White House and a Democratic Congress will the nation survive? The recent release of the Homeric Fable is timely …