Thank you, Kathleen, and yes, Hedge's address was excellent! I boosted it, the man is usually on target. There is no other way now, the opportunity was squandered at least 50 years ago.
Geoff: I have been focused on conventional actions that help me think through activity, rather than dwell on the evil surrounding us. I protested at the NOT MY PREZ day in front of the Cleveland courthouse, wrote to PBS about closing its DEI office, was featured in an article titled "Diversity, By Any Other Name" and joined a local Indivisible Group Chapter to participate in tangible events.
Your writing is always informative. I appreciate it. Now is the time to take action to protest what we have left of a country rather than fall into hopelessness. I like the comments from readers on kindness as we navigate through the abyss.
Pam, your physical actions in protesting are an irreplaceable, needed act that must grow as quickly as possible. The attack on democracy and poor state of health of the planet make this is our last now or never moment, IMO. Proud of you.
Thank you, Walter! Sharing my work with your friends is a great compliment, and deeply appreciated. I'm pretty sure this is what all of us sounding the alarm bells want more than anything else.
I’ve been reflecting on if our generation has the courage to resist tyranny like the greatest generation of WWII, or the outnumbered Greeks at the Battle of Marathon. Then I remember the courage of our average Americans at 9/11, helping neighbors and strangers and fighting back against terrorists on Flight 93.
Once we recognize the enemy and the existential threat we will come together.
Great comment and perspective. The division we have is mostly manufactured. Average people share the same needs and hopes for their children to have a future. I made a comment a few months ago that if you witnessed a child on a bicycle hit by a car, your first words wouldn't be, "Are your parents Republicans or Democrats?" I hope people can come together soon. There is no time left in the common threats we face.
What is up to me and you? Sure, nobody is coming to save us, but there is not a thing to be done by us if it is game over as you suggest. I don’t understand the point of a rallying call. For what?
Fair enough comment. It's probably game over for most of us. With proper preparation and large enough communities possessing diverse and practical nineteenth century skills, perhaps a few of the preppers can come out on the other side. I well-know I won't be one of them. In the meantime, I wish to warn people. It certainly influences how I wish to spend my remaining time.
I'd start the piece with, "It's probably game over for most of us..." Then, "but, since we are still here, instead of cursing our situation we need to turn to what we might do."
Yes I agree, it is a memento mori and a call to spend our precious time on this precious earth — preciously. It beckons towards Love and not Fear … a post-doom mindset = a gift of awareness
Our population consists of two massive flocks of sheep, and only a tiny group understand that the very same forces shepherd them both. Divide and Conquer has won the last battle our species will ever confront. So be kind in whatever time remains for us.
I dont believe 95% of Americans will survive 7 days without coffee, Sugar, fast food, hot water, and toilet paper.
When i see the debt for life, transgender intifada kids in the pro communist Islam protests, i fully understand that the US needs a huge, back to basics change.
As an outsider, who follow to learn, i think you got used to comfort, so much that any request to build something new, harness the people for your values of real freedom, accountability etc, makes you cry.
not to mention the European which are doomed by demography.
Anyway,
the 5% of food growers, gun owners, nature hunters (Joel salatin ?) will outlast the blue haired BLM bla bla that took over and made America a laughing stock to the rest of the world.
I agree, most Americans won't last long when the supply chains break down, from agricultural climate change loss, increasing human displacement, and dwindling oil. You seem to be implying a softness in Americans from coddled lives, and probably that is true for most, but I would argue that's true in other developed nations as well. How many have the ability to harvest and purify rain water or grow crops? How many have the ability to defend themselves when desperate marauders wander by?
I part company with you on BLM. This nation was built on the backs of slaves and the oppression of blacks is systemic, and the police routinely get exonerated after murdering unarmed black men.
Yes, those that own guns and possess 18th century skills will have a chance of holding out longer, but ultimately with unchecked overshoot and climate change few will survive. Trump, the ultimate laughingstock, is ensuring an even faster spiral down.
Thank you for your comment, and best to you having survived the horrors of a war zone.
I have a suggestion that will not FIX any problems, but might slow the Donald's mission to destroy whatever is left of our democracy and our environment. Act Blue is reaching out for donations to the DNC during and after his speech to Congress tonight. If they can manage to flip some congressional seats in the next election ('26 or '27, depending on the state), they may be able to hinder the progress of Project 2025. I am hoping that soon, many people will wake up to what is really happening and begin to object. If you know of someone who can afford to contribute to the DNC, pass this message along.
The Democrats are far from perfect, but there are some true activists in their ranks.
I think some people will wake up, but wonder how many of those will be paralyzed by fear and hopelessness? Personally, I have given up on the Dems, who have been complicit in the rise of neoliberal economics, and the ongoing horror of Gaza. I gave to Act Blue and similar for years, only to see the party become weaker and weaker. If there are midterm elections, questionable in itself, and the Dems gain enough seats to derail some of Project 2025, we will still be in the stalemate with the Republicans who refuse to give ground on even the smallest issues. The only thing the two parties agree on is an ever larger military budget.
With climate change, overshoot, and fascism in our bodies and on our brains, I have no faith in the system. Nothing short of an uprising will do in my opinion. The system is deeply corrupt, and hundreds of thousands are in jeopardy from cuts to USAID, which comprised less than one percent of the federal budget. That callowness applies to all of us now.
IMO, we need a massive civil uprising, strikes and boycotts to stop the machine. We may as well, because massive economic pain is on the horizon. We're on the verge of losing everything. We can take the risks now with a chance of success, or lie down with the outcome which should be increasingly obvious to all those but the most brainwashed.
Sorry for the dreary assessment. Thank you for weighing in.
Thank you, Kathleen, and yes, Hedge's address was excellent! I boosted it, the man is usually on target. There is no other way now, the opportunity was squandered at least 50 years ago.
Geoff: I have been focused on conventional actions that help me think through activity, rather than dwell on the evil surrounding us. I protested at the NOT MY PREZ day in front of the Cleveland courthouse, wrote to PBS about closing its DEI office, was featured in an article titled "Diversity, By Any Other Name" and joined a local Indivisible Group Chapter to participate in tangible events.
Your writing is always informative. I appreciate it. Now is the time to take action to protest what we have left of a country rather than fall into hopelessness. I like the comments from readers on kindness as we navigate through the abyss.
Pam, your physical actions in protesting are an irreplaceable, needed act that must grow as quickly as possible. The attack on democracy and poor state of health of the planet make this is our last now or never moment, IMO. Proud of you.
I think you've said it perfectly; now we only need the wisdom to be kind to one another as it all burns.
This was the best thing I’ve read from you, Geoffrey. Really superb. I will share it with the ones I love and the people I respect.
Thank you, Walter! Sharing my work with your friends is a great compliment, and deeply appreciated. I'm pretty sure this is what all of us sounding the alarm bells want more than anything else.
I’ve been reflecting on if our generation has the courage to resist tyranny like the greatest generation of WWII, or the outnumbered Greeks at the Battle of Marathon. Then I remember the courage of our average Americans at 9/11, helping neighbors and strangers and fighting back against terrorists on Flight 93.
Once we recognize the enemy and the existential threat we will come together.
Great comment and perspective. The division we have is mostly manufactured. Average people share the same needs and hopes for their children to have a future. I made a comment a few months ago that if you witnessed a child on a bicycle hit by a car, your first words wouldn't be, "Are your parents Republicans or Democrats?" I hope people can come together soon. There is no time left in the common threats we face.
Yep. They never ask my politics when I give blood.
What is up to me and you? Sure, nobody is coming to save us, but there is not a thing to be done by us if it is game over as you suggest. I don’t understand the point of a rallying call. For what?
Fair enough comment. It's probably game over for most of us. With proper preparation and large enough communities possessing diverse and practical nineteenth century skills, perhaps a few of the preppers can come out on the other side. I well-know I won't be one of them. In the meantime, I wish to warn people. It certainly influences how I wish to spend my remaining time.
I'd start the piece with, "It's probably game over for most of us..." Then, "but, since we are still here, instead of cursing our situation we need to turn to what we might do."
Yes I agree, it is a memento mori and a call to spend our precious time on this precious earth — preciously. It beckons towards Love and not Fear … a post-doom mindset = a gift of awareness
Our population consists of two massive flocks of sheep, and only a tiny group understand that the very same forces shepherd them both. Divide and Conquer has won the last battle our species will ever confront. So be kind in whatever time remains for us.
I agree. This is a time for appreciating those we love more. It's also a time for choosing how we spend our time wisely to the best of our ability.
Great post, Geoffrey! For a call to arms, see Hedges' address to the Seattle unions: https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/chris-hedges-full-speech-at-workers
No hay otra camino!
As someone who comes from a war zone,
I dont believe 95% of Americans will survive 7 days without coffee, Sugar, fast food, hot water, and toilet paper.
When i see the debt for life, transgender intifada kids in the pro communist Islam protests, i fully understand that the US needs a huge, back to basics change.
As an outsider, who follow to learn, i think you got used to comfort, so much that any request to build something new, harness the people for your values of real freedom, accountability etc, makes you cry.
not to mention the European which are doomed by demography.
Anyway,
the 5% of food growers, gun owners, nature hunters (Joel salatin ?) will outlast the blue haired BLM bla bla that took over and made America a laughing stock to the rest of the world.
I agree, most Americans won't last long when the supply chains break down, from agricultural climate change loss, increasing human displacement, and dwindling oil. You seem to be implying a softness in Americans from coddled lives, and probably that is true for most, but I would argue that's true in other developed nations as well. How many have the ability to harvest and purify rain water or grow crops? How many have the ability to defend themselves when desperate marauders wander by?
I part company with you on BLM. This nation was built on the backs of slaves and the oppression of blacks is systemic, and the police routinely get exonerated after murdering unarmed black men.
Yes, those that own guns and possess 18th century skills will have a chance of holding out longer, but ultimately with unchecked overshoot and climate change few will survive. Trump, the ultimate laughingstock, is ensuring an even faster spiral down.
Thank you for your comment, and best to you having survived the horrors of a war zone.
I wish you well,
Hope we will all be delusional and in 10 years look back and lough at our ignorance:)
I hope to be proven wrong on most of what I write, but science and human behavior say otherwise.
I have a suggestion that will not FIX any problems, but might slow the Donald's mission to destroy whatever is left of our democracy and our environment. Act Blue is reaching out for donations to the DNC during and after his speech to Congress tonight. If they can manage to flip some congressional seats in the next election ('26 or '27, depending on the state), they may be able to hinder the progress of Project 2025. I am hoping that soon, many people will wake up to what is really happening and begin to object. If you know of someone who can afford to contribute to the DNC, pass this message along.
The Democrats are far from perfect, but there are some true activists in their ranks.
I think some people will wake up, but wonder how many of those will be paralyzed by fear and hopelessness? Personally, I have given up on the Dems, who have been complicit in the rise of neoliberal economics, and the ongoing horror of Gaza. I gave to Act Blue and similar for years, only to see the party become weaker and weaker. If there are midterm elections, questionable in itself, and the Dems gain enough seats to derail some of Project 2025, we will still be in the stalemate with the Republicans who refuse to give ground on even the smallest issues. The only thing the two parties agree on is an ever larger military budget.
With climate change, overshoot, and fascism in our bodies and on our brains, I have no faith in the system. Nothing short of an uprising will do in my opinion. The system is deeply corrupt, and hundreds of thousands are in jeopardy from cuts to USAID, which comprised less than one percent of the federal budget. That callowness applies to all of us now.
IMO, we need a massive civil uprising, strikes and boycotts to stop the machine. We may as well, because massive economic pain is on the horizon. We're on the verge of losing everything. We can take the risks now with a chance of success, or lie down with the outcome which should be increasingly obvious to all those but the most brainwashed.
Sorry for the dreary assessment. Thank you for weighing in.