Your slightly buried comment struck me "There’s a lot of disquiet in America about how much power big corporations have over our lives ............. To date, no one has figured out how to organize people with those feelings into something with political power. The efforts around fighting the critical Citizens United suit were SO badly organized....numerous men (I do mean men) each had their own "amendment" they were pushing so that there was not one movement illustrating the risk to our democracy in free cash to the political system. It was a tragic loss of opportunity that we can't get back over this underlying flaw.
The elites who run both parties have quit analyzing issues individually and rely instead on groupthink to reach their conclusions.
Using the Democrats as an example, FDR and JFK would laugh at what passes for policy in their beloved Democratic Party. Although both were upper class they understood that victory for their party depended on appealing to working class voters. Current party leaders distain the “deplorable” and “racist” members of the working class.
A laundry list of things for Democrats to keep and to dump if they ever want to win again nationwide. One could prepare a mirror image of these issues (everything being reversed) for the Republicans.
Keep a woman’s right to choose for the first trimester. Dump abortion until birth unless the mother’s health is at risk or the fetus is not viable.
Keep a concern for climate change and grow nuclear power. Dump intermittent, unreliable renewable energy that requires backup continuous generating capacity which is then used intermittently. A ridiculously expensive approach.
Keep and develop new effective vaccines. Dump vaccine mandates.
Keep equality of opportunity for all. Dump equity of results based on discriminating against men, whites and Asians in a futile attempt to compensate for past discrimination against women and blacks. Recognize that D.E.I. Is unconstitutional.
Keep the protection of gay and lesbian rights. Dump men in women’s sports, private spaces and prisons. Oh, and mutilating children who might grow up to be gay.
Keep an opportunity for selective high value immigration. Dump sanctuary cities and open borders.
Keep helping the homeless find jobs and a place to live. Dump camping in cities, shitting in the streets and allowing open drug use.
Keep a concern for due process in criminal justice. Dump letting shoplifters and other petty thieves off the hook and releasing predators back on the streets without bail to kill and maim again.
Do all of the above and the Democrats might find their way back to power and the Republicans likewise must also constantly revisit their current positions to stay in office.
Defiance is a great concept for this moment, Micah! I'm so glad to hear about the defiance movement among those most affected, especially because I feel so powerless here in CT. We are in a much different situation than 8 years ago...I know this is old-school, but I'd love to see a huge march on Washington set for July 4. The imagery of people in the streets still has power to make an impact.
Hi Micah - sent an email but, wondering if you'd be up for adopting your commentary tuned to Last's piece for a FIRST piece around April 1. That Last one really is getting a lot of play. FWIW, he did make a point of saying that leaders matter and ex-cons like him shouldn't be too choosy. if the Defiance leans left, Last seemed fine w/ it. Whatev, I LOVED your bit about the fed workers having to take an Oath! And so much more....So, as I say, hope you'll consider a rejigger for FIRST...lemme know...bdemott@hotmail.com
Another good one! Good to see the Bernie roadshow maybe more than raising millions for him and AOC. I'm still skeptical that Democrats are doing more than raising money vs actual Defiance! (which I love). As you state Murphy et Al are spending millions on social media to do what? 🤔 Raise more money 💵.
Really important is your observation that many of the new folks protesting are using the American flag 🇺🇸. For too long Democrats have "resisted" showing the flag and ceded patriotism and the flag to the right. No longer (I hope). Every protest should be covered in the American flag. No one side should own patriotism.
Your slightly buried comment struck me "There’s a lot of disquiet in America about how much power big corporations have over our lives ............. To date, no one has figured out how to organize people with those feelings into something with political power. The efforts around fighting the critical Citizens United suit were SO badly organized....numerous men (I do mean men) each had their own "amendment" they were pushing so that there was not one movement illustrating the risk to our democracy in free cash to the political system. It was a tragic loss of opportunity that we can't get back over this underlying flaw.
Thank you for this excellent reporting Micah!
The elites who run both parties have quit analyzing issues individually and rely instead on groupthink to reach their conclusions.
Using the Democrats as an example, FDR and JFK would laugh at what passes for policy in their beloved Democratic Party. Although both were upper class they understood that victory for their party depended on appealing to working class voters. Current party leaders distain the “deplorable” and “racist” members of the working class.
A laundry list of things for Democrats to keep and to dump if they ever want to win again nationwide. One could prepare a mirror image of these issues (everything being reversed) for the Republicans.
Keep a woman’s right to choose for the first trimester. Dump abortion until birth unless the mother’s health is at risk or the fetus is not viable.
Keep a concern for climate change and grow nuclear power. Dump intermittent, unreliable renewable energy that requires backup continuous generating capacity which is then used intermittently. A ridiculously expensive approach.
Keep and develop new effective vaccines. Dump vaccine mandates.
Keep equality of opportunity for all. Dump equity of results based on discriminating against men, whites and Asians in a futile attempt to compensate for past discrimination against women and blacks. Recognize that D.E.I. Is unconstitutional.
Keep the protection of gay and lesbian rights. Dump men in women’s sports, private spaces and prisons. Oh, and mutilating children who might grow up to be gay.
Keep an opportunity for selective high value immigration. Dump sanctuary cities and open borders.
Keep helping the homeless find jobs and a place to live. Dump camping in cities, shitting in the streets and allowing open drug use.
Keep a concern for due process in criminal justice. Dump letting shoplifters and other petty thieves off the hook and releasing predators back on the streets without bail to kill and maim again.
Do all of the above and the Democrats might find their way back to power and the Republicans likewise must also constantly revisit their current positions to stay in office.
Defiance is a great concept for this moment, Micah! I'm so glad to hear about the defiance movement among those most affected, especially because I feel so powerless here in CT. We are in a much different situation than 8 years ago...I know this is old-school, but I'd love to see a huge march on Washington set for July 4. The imagery of people in the streets still has power to make an impact.
Thank you! Sharing it.
fantastic, info-rich, and *defiant* newsletter this week. thank you, Micah.
Hi Micah - sent an email but, wondering if you'd be up for adopting your commentary tuned to Last's piece for a FIRST piece around April 1. That Last one really is getting a lot of play. FWIW, he did make a point of saying that leaders matter and ex-cons like him shouldn't be too choosy. if the Defiance leans left, Last seemed fine w/ it. Whatev, I LOVED your bit about the fed workers having to take an Oath! And so much more....So, as I say, hope you'll consider a rejigger for FIRST...lemme know...bdemott@hotmail.com
Another good one! Good to see the Bernie roadshow maybe more than raising millions for him and AOC. I'm still skeptical that Democrats are doing more than raising money vs actual Defiance! (which I love). As you state Murphy et Al are spending millions on social media to do what? 🤔 Raise more money 💵.
Really important is your observation that many of the new folks protesting are using the American flag 🇺🇸. For too long Democrats have "resisted" showing the flag and ceded patriotism and the flag to the right. No longer (I hope). Every protest should be covered in the American flag. No one side should own patriotism.