Yes … vote … and after a Blue Wave is manifested in election night victories for Biden and Dems (millions of us are already working to make that happen … so that’s looking possible!) … Trump declares himself the winner (of course) and the AR-15 toting paramilitary incited by renegade General Mike Flynn, fascist propagandist Elon Musk thru “X”, Peter Thiel, Eric Prince, Roger Stone etc etc and financed by billionaires Leonard Leo and his mobster friends … guess who is “inaugurated”on Jan 20 … we have NO governmental institutions to protect us (DOJ& FBI are neutered, local police forces are waiting to fire their guns on pro-democracy protesters) and there is NO pro-democracy paramilitary as there was in the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s.
Of course — Never give up hope …. which is where exactly?
It appears this election will be inevitably close, sick as that is, so the potential for some kind of violence is certainly present. And correct, we "liberals" are generally unarmed. Excellent short list of some of the players that have gotten us here. In the meantime, none of them recognize the limits of growth. The plan is to degrow us. It's a conclusion I came to sometime ago, and I have seen no reason to change my mind.
Thank you - I celebrated the 4th in a quiet, reflective way.I fear it I may be the last where freedom (though tested in horrible ways every day) might dissolve overnight, if Trump is elected.
I liked: "Nature teaches that complex, independent, overlapping systems provide resilience. " I believe this to be true and would point out Tragedy of the Commons. as a precept that has gotten us into this mess.
I celebrated the 4th with my family, and surprisingly I found a few openings to talk about a few of the facts I have learned and written about in the last few years without bringing the get-together down. Yay. Of all Independence Days I have celebrated, this was the biggest one ever, because as you well know, the next one could be very different, forced reverence to a dear leader. Overpopulation, discussed in the Tragedy of the Commons, was an actual discussed topic when I was in grade school, maybe for you, too. This basic problem is now rarely discussed, and when it is, politicized, making us monsters to mention it.
We recently surpassed eight billion people on the planet, projected to grow over ten billion in short time. Discussing this fundamental is not political, it's necessary.
At the same time, over-exploitation of the common resource of our Earth is an equal problem, and a serious moral one as well, in the hands of just a few people. Those that don't recognize the Earth and here resources as a common, are the biggest and powerful impediment to our future. These things should not be owned, they are a fundamental right to all people and all life on this planet.
Overpopulation could have only happened with the enormous release of energy created by fossil fuels. Many good people responded to the population bomb by using that energy in the forms of pesticides and fertilizers to increase food production. Now we clearly see the wall have run into a wall with that approach. Fossil fuels have led to both an unsustainable population, and the calamitous challenges of sustaining that increased agriculture from drought, fires and floods. And fossil fuels are becoming harder and evermore expensive to extract. We're approaching the end of a dead end road oil company geologists well understood 50 years ago. For the times they are a-changin’
Geoff: Your reply to my comment was spot on & stated in a far more eloquent way. I don't recall Tragedy of the Commons being a topic in grade school but in college there were discussions a plenty. I find it so relevant to our collective challenge, foremost that of solving human generated climate change.
My opinion is our last election was in 1960. We haven't had a legitimate election since then. Consider the two proposed candidates for 24. We have a system no different from the USSR. Two candidates with the same head.
Have the Dems in Congress been screaming as they should be about these decisions? Have the republicans? No to both. Major changes need to be made either to the constitution or the legal framework to prevent the misinterpretation of the constitution. SCOTUS is now above the law and the president is now above the law. The US is a banana republic with a kangaroo court. We have already lost everything. It's just being legitimized now.
Trump was absolutely right screaming about election fraud. Electronic voting machines are designed for fraud. No traceability. Mail in votes should only be allowed for citizens overseas. The US postal service is not reliable enough and theft of votes in key districts can change the outcome of the election. Both of these were legitimized by the "stolen election". Both were implemented to cast doubt in election results.
The Jan 6 event was a setup for the SCOTUS decision. It was the right thing to do but done for the wrong reason. (As you point out).
Fundamental Christians want all out war in the middle east. Is it any wonder that our "government" based on a MIC would listen and support them?
" The conservatives, aided by decades of lies by the likes of Rupert Murdock, Rush Limbaugh, Alex Jones...." and the liberals have quietly supported them by saying and doing nothing. Even when in the majority.
Our choice of candidates for '24 is of course horrific. However, I have to emphasize, one is exponentially worse. While hope for a future dwindles either way, one ends any hope in a few short months. Regardless, we're in deep trouble. Both parties have led us to this point, polluted by money. I have no direct experience of 1960, being born in '61. Kennedy of course represented great hope. We were already embroiled with the red threat, arguably a creation of our own making to a great degree. While Stalin was a killer, most Russians look to him as a time when their country was strong and respected. We are killers, too. We could have come away from WWII as allies, not enemies. Not a beautiful thought, but certainly better than a nuclear arms race.
I thought the election of Carter was legit, and the only moral President I have known.
I respectfully disagree about Trump's screaming election fraud. He has stupidly admitted to knowing he lost, because he has no control over his mouth. That said, I'm not sure in a country of over 330 million how to feel confident of voting tabulations, electronic or otherwise. Still seething over hanging chads in Florida. The system is all cheating, all the time.
There's definitely an ugly alliance between fundamentalist Christians and Zionists, ugly stuff and the calculus of liberals in ensuring their own elections by allowing certain issues to fester, abortion among them. Such is the world. Even the handful that start with good intentions are forced to play the game.
As always, I share and feel your frustration. Thank you for reading and the conversation.
I'm right there with you. I hold my breath every time I access the news or open a newspaper. (Imagine the frustration of the few Supreme Court Justices who are sane!)
It's taken decades, but the far right minority has managed to rig the system to give themselves a chance. Democrats, forever infighting, are half to blame. They participated in the grotesque wealth disparity fueling this terrible situation. This election is for all the marbles, including our big blue one. My overarching frustration is that our so-called leaders can't see the truth about exceeding the limits of the planet. It's truly crazy. Power and greed are blind.
You nailed it. The vote will matter, and I think Biden will win. However, I suspect that the right already knows this and is planning how they will change the outcome through violence, including directed at officials of all kinds. Even if we withstand that, we have to correct the weaknesses in our constitution, especially the Supreme Court, which is making an authoritarian country possible. We cannot continue to give free rein to those who destroy the country using aspects of the constitution like freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Thanks for your insightful post.
I think there could be significant violence if Biden wins. One has to wonder how much of it could come from the inside? If we manage to get through this election with some vestige of Democracy still intact, we'll still be far from out of the woods. The economic realities of the climate crisis guarantee it.
I am aware many in the military are more right-wing aligned. I agree with you that our democracy will require a big overhaul and you are right that climate issues and other environmental; issues (water, air pollution and topsoil loss) will require that consumerism goes and that will radically change what we call an economy.
Yes, military and police skew right. Sometimes patriotism can be exercised in the worst way. Water, air, topsoil all on target, also the unspoken elephant in the room the decline of oil well under way. What's left is evermore difficult to get out of the ground, requiring more energy for diminishing returns. At some point in the near future, those dynamics are going to be keenly felt.
I have read that readily available oil reserves will last c. 2 -3 decades at best. It astounds me that this information was available and known in the 1960s. We had an environmental bill in the 1980s that passed both houses that Reagan would not sign. There was a large write-up about it in the NYT. At some point, we need to rebalance individualism with the common good; individualism cannot be allowed to be this destructive, especially hiding behind patriotism, freedom of speech, etc. We first have to establish that this move to authoritarianism will not be allowed. It may mean a civil war, and some are promoting it. Then, we have to strengthen our country. We all need to be taking our vitamins - we are going to need them.
2 to 3 decades may be about right, problem is of course it's going to get very expensive, drive inflation across the economy (along with disasters and migration) and take down the consumption economy which needs to happen, but not by shock therapy. However, since we've known since the 60s as you point out and haven't implemented a plan for this day, a shock is what we're going to get. I hate to be a downer, but it's going to require our bodies on the line, and it's most unfortunate liberals are seen as the enemy by those who have been misled. That really complicates defeating the real enemy. It's so important to communicate these ideas to the January 6 types as best we can. With the fall of materialism, perhaps toxic individualism can give way to community and family again.
I have been disheartened at the scapegoating of liberals. There really is no excuse for allowing our problems to get this bad. Unfortunately, there seems to be a strong victim narrative around change, including stepping back from consumerism. Whenever the system we have denies or goes again reality, we are asking for trouble. So those who think they are victims are not, but I detect a certain glee at attacking those who would address our problems as they are. I believe we are all being asked to grow up. Those who get up every day to make the country work, deserve better from some of their fellow citizens who are happily in denial. Citizenship is everyone's job and when that happens we can have thriving communities. But, I agree with you that it will likely get much worse before we have real change and a lot of people will be hurt.
Yes … vote … and after a Blue Wave is manifested in election night victories for Biden and Dems (millions of us are already working to make that happen … so that’s looking possible!) … Trump declares himself the winner (of course) and the AR-15 toting paramilitary incited by renegade General Mike Flynn, fascist propagandist Elon Musk thru “X”, Peter Thiel, Eric Prince, Roger Stone etc etc and financed by billionaires Leonard Leo and his mobster friends … guess who is “inaugurated”on Jan 20 … we have NO governmental institutions to protect us (DOJ& FBI are neutered, local police forces are waiting to fire their guns on pro-democracy protesters) and there is NO pro-democracy paramilitary as there was in the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s.
Of course — Never give up hope …. which is where exactly?
It appears this election will be inevitably close, sick as that is, so the potential for some kind of violence is certainly present. And correct, we "liberals" are generally unarmed. Excellent short list of some of the players that have gotten us here. In the meantime, none of them recognize the limits of growth. The plan is to degrow us. It's a conclusion I came to sometime ago, and I have seen no reason to change my mind.
Thank you - I celebrated the 4th in a quiet, reflective way.I fear it I may be the last where freedom (though tested in horrible ways every day) might dissolve overnight, if Trump is elected.
I liked: "Nature teaches that complex, independent, overlapping systems provide resilience. " I believe this to be true and would point out Tragedy of the Commons. as a precept that has gotten us into this mess.
I celebrated the 4th with my family, and surprisingly I found a few openings to talk about a few of the facts I have learned and written about in the last few years without bringing the get-together down. Yay. Of all Independence Days I have celebrated, this was the biggest one ever, because as you well know, the next one could be very different, forced reverence to a dear leader. Overpopulation, discussed in the Tragedy of the Commons, was an actual discussed topic when I was in grade school, maybe for you, too. This basic problem is now rarely discussed, and when it is, politicized, making us monsters to mention it.
We recently surpassed eight billion people on the planet, projected to grow over ten billion in short time. Discussing this fundamental is not political, it's necessary.
At the same time, over-exploitation of the common resource of our Earth is an equal problem, and a serious moral one as well, in the hands of just a few people. Those that don't recognize the Earth and here resources as a common, are the biggest and powerful impediment to our future. These things should not be owned, they are a fundamental right to all people and all life on this planet.
Overpopulation could have only happened with the enormous release of energy created by fossil fuels. Many good people responded to the population bomb by using that energy in the forms of pesticides and fertilizers to increase food production. Now we clearly see the wall have run into a wall with that approach. Fossil fuels have led to both an unsustainable population, and the calamitous challenges of sustaining that increased agriculture from drought, fires and floods. And fossil fuels are becoming harder and evermore expensive to extract. We're approaching the end of a dead end road oil company geologists well understood 50 years ago. For the times they are a-changin’
Geoff: Your reply to my comment was spot on & stated in a far more eloquent way. I don't recall Tragedy of the Commons being a topic in grade school but in college there were discussions a plenty. I find it so relevant to our collective challenge, foremost that of solving human generated climate change.
Great job.
My opinion is our last election was in 1960. We haven't had a legitimate election since then. Consider the two proposed candidates for 24. We have a system no different from the USSR. Two candidates with the same head.
Have the Dems in Congress been screaming as they should be about these decisions? Have the republicans? No to both. Major changes need to be made either to the constitution or the legal framework to prevent the misinterpretation of the constitution. SCOTUS is now above the law and the president is now above the law. The US is a banana republic with a kangaroo court. We have already lost everything. It's just being legitimized now.
Trump was absolutely right screaming about election fraud. Electronic voting machines are designed for fraud. No traceability. Mail in votes should only be allowed for citizens overseas. The US postal service is not reliable enough and theft of votes in key districts can change the outcome of the election. Both of these were legitimized by the "stolen election". Both were implemented to cast doubt in election results.
The Jan 6 event was a setup for the SCOTUS decision. It was the right thing to do but done for the wrong reason. (As you point out).
Fundamental Christians want all out war in the middle east. Is it any wonder that our "government" based on a MIC would listen and support them?
" The conservatives, aided by decades of lies by the likes of Rupert Murdock, Rush Limbaugh, Alex Jones...." and the liberals have quietly supported them by saying and doing nothing. Even when in the majority.
Our choice of candidates for '24 is of course horrific. However, I have to emphasize, one is exponentially worse. While hope for a future dwindles either way, one ends any hope in a few short months. Regardless, we're in deep trouble. Both parties have led us to this point, polluted by money. I have no direct experience of 1960, being born in '61. Kennedy of course represented great hope. We were already embroiled with the red threat, arguably a creation of our own making to a great degree. While Stalin was a killer, most Russians look to him as a time when their country was strong and respected. We are killers, too. We could have come away from WWII as allies, not enemies. Not a beautiful thought, but certainly better than a nuclear arms race.
I thought the election of Carter was legit, and the only moral President I have known.
I respectfully disagree about Trump's screaming election fraud. He has stupidly admitted to knowing he lost, because he has no control over his mouth. That said, I'm not sure in a country of over 330 million how to feel confident of voting tabulations, electronic or otherwise. Still seething over hanging chads in Florida. The system is all cheating, all the time.
There's definitely an ugly alliance between fundamentalist Christians and Zionists, ugly stuff and the calculus of liberals in ensuring their own elections by allowing certain issues to fester, abortion among them. Such is the world. Even the handful that start with good intentions are forced to play the game.
As always, I share and feel your frustration. Thank you for reading and the conversation.
Musical interlude: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjWE3Al_mcU
I'm right there with you. I hold my breath every time I access the news or open a newspaper. (Imagine the frustration of the few Supreme Court Justices who are sane!)
It's taken decades, but the far right minority has managed to rig the system to give themselves a chance. Democrats, forever infighting, are half to blame. They participated in the grotesque wealth disparity fueling this terrible situation. This election is for all the marbles, including our big blue one. My overarching frustration is that our so-called leaders can't see the truth about exceeding the limits of the planet. It's truly crazy. Power and greed are blind.
You nailed it. The vote will matter, and I think Biden will win. However, I suspect that the right already knows this and is planning how they will change the outcome through violence, including directed at officials of all kinds. Even if we withstand that, we have to correct the weaknesses in our constitution, especially the Supreme Court, which is making an authoritarian country possible. We cannot continue to give free rein to those who destroy the country using aspects of the constitution like freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Thanks for your insightful post.
I think there could be significant violence if Biden wins. One has to wonder how much of it could come from the inside? If we manage to get through this election with some vestige of Democracy still intact, we'll still be far from out of the woods. The economic realities of the climate crisis guarantee it.
I am aware many in the military are more right-wing aligned. I agree with you that our democracy will require a big overhaul and you are right that climate issues and other environmental; issues (water, air pollution and topsoil loss) will require that consumerism goes and that will radically change what we call an economy.
Yes, military and police skew right. Sometimes patriotism can be exercised in the worst way. Water, air, topsoil all on target, also the unspoken elephant in the room the decline of oil well under way. What's left is evermore difficult to get out of the ground, requiring more energy for diminishing returns. At some point in the near future, those dynamics are going to be keenly felt.
I have read that readily available oil reserves will last c. 2 -3 decades at best. It astounds me that this information was available and known in the 1960s. We had an environmental bill in the 1980s that passed both houses that Reagan would not sign. There was a large write-up about it in the NYT. At some point, we need to rebalance individualism with the common good; individualism cannot be allowed to be this destructive, especially hiding behind patriotism, freedom of speech, etc. We first have to establish that this move to authoritarianism will not be allowed. It may mean a civil war, and some are promoting it. Then, we have to strengthen our country. We all need to be taking our vitamins - we are going to need them.
2 to 3 decades may be about right, problem is of course it's going to get very expensive, drive inflation across the economy (along with disasters and migration) and take down the consumption economy which needs to happen, but not by shock therapy. However, since we've known since the 60s as you point out and haven't implemented a plan for this day, a shock is what we're going to get. I hate to be a downer, but it's going to require our bodies on the line, and it's most unfortunate liberals are seen as the enemy by those who have been misled. That really complicates defeating the real enemy. It's so important to communicate these ideas to the January 6 types as best we can. With the fall of materialism, perhaps toxic individualism can give way to community and family again.
I have been disheartened at the scapegoating of liberals. There really is no excuse for allowing our problems to get this bad. Unfortunately, there seems to be a strong victim narrative around change, including stepping back from consumerism. Whenever the system we have denies or goes again reality, we are asking for trouble. So those who think they are victims are not, but I detect a certain glee at attacking those who would address our problems as they are. I believe we are all being asked to grow up. Those who get up every day to make the country work, deserve better from some of their fellow citizens who are happily in denial. Citizenship is everyone's job and when that happens we can have thriving communities. But, I agree with you that it will likely get much worse before we have real change and a lot of people will be hurt.