Steve, thank you so much for this. Your post is exactly what should be in the minds of everyone who truly loves our country and the ideals we have been aspiring to for centuries. Your post has truth, balance, historical perspective and hope - something that we need so much now. Thank you.
Thank you. I feel so much better than when I woke up this morning and thought about all of the issues you discussed so eloquently. You must be able to read my mind. Or great minds think alike. And your great mind writes out your thoughts so much better. Everything you wrote in your baker's dozen has been swirling in my head, sometimes waking me up at night, sometimes keeping me from getting to sleep, sometimes even interrupting my treadmill time, which beside being a good physical exercise, is supposed to be my relaxing time. I say to myself: is all of the chaos around us interfering with my exercise endorphin production. You are so right. We can't give up on what is correct and good and fair and honest. We can't give up on the dream that is America. We can't give up on the philosophy that is democracy. We have to hold tight to our values. We may take a slight, or maybe more than slight, hit in the short term; but as you say, we can't just give up and give in to the other side. If things don't go our way in this election cycle, and in the current series of attempts at voter suppression, hypocritical, unqualified candidates, potential prosecutions against 45 (I just can't use his name), we still have to send firm and have faith. And btw: I always tell you how it's great to be in this political support group, but I haven't told you that my neighbor in my condo development has a larger than life size cardboard cutout of 45 in her garage. She leave her garage door open open (probably just because she's carless), and just walking a few houses up to the condo mailboxes, I am traumatized by the larger than life-size cardboard 45 staring at me. I need to remind myself when walking to the mailboxes to look toward the left side of the street, to avoid having 45 literally in my face. Have a good weekend and thank you again for your wise words, your strong spirit of what is correct and why it matters that we stay strong and stay in this to win in the long run.
No, I’m not either..You have inspired me to take a different path in my thinking..However, these are desperate times that require desperate measures..We are in a fight fire with fire moment..we must meet this moment with strength, determination and outrage..In my view this begins with one necessary action..The removal of Trump from the equation..period..As I have said before...A fish rots from the head, cut off the head, the body wethers and dies..
Thanks Steven. I too am an optimist, although as I have said before, it is difficult. Very anxious times, but I still have the Kansas example in my head, and I do not feel that lies and hate are in a majority and that a great majority of Americans are better than the Trumps of the world. Bring them on!
I'm 64, I've put up with a lot of this negativity my entire life. So far it's all been progress, messy maybe, but progress. Of course our generation has seen and profited from the titanic benefit of the WW2 victory. I've never given up hope. Cynicism, otoh, has been a constant companion.
I appreciate and do love your steadfast optimism in the face of overwhelming odds. But the right wing fascists control the dark money, control the courts including the Supreme Court, have gerrymandered voting and in many states decimated voting rights, are gaining control of the press and possibly the secret service as well as the military. And the Democrats demonstrate an irritating cluelessness and ineptness to what has happened. Bottom lining it, the situation looks very grim.
Steven, you inspired me with your 'No I'm Not' post. In the face of so much 'sturm und drang' (German) i.e. 'storm and stress' occurring on the American tableau, is it even more important now to keep our faith in humanity, respect the rule of law and believe that justice will prevail. I agree with you about the unreliability of Polls, and the Media's proclivity to report on the sensational. Strong numbers in advance voting indicates to me that the often silent majority i.e. people who don't make great waves at political gatherings, are determined to set a clear course. I would like to think that every American would want to stand up for what is best for their country, as a whole. Those who were swayed by the machinations of megalomaniac #45, may have felt buoyed by a sense of unbridled power. A dark current of 'breaking bad' individuals surfaced like a malignancy, which if left unattended, can do great harm to democratic purpose. The shadow side of personality is a particular driver for bad behaviour, and so we must continually seek the light of truth, despite political distortions and disruption. I choose to have faith, that the 'better angels' will prevail. Godspeed America . * submitted by a Canadian : ) *
Thirteen reason! Just awesome. I’m not giving up because my parents, grandparents and great-grandparents didn’t give up. We are all a legacy of people who fought (hard) for what we believe in and to pass it to the next generation.
In the furtherance of the Pro Democracy movement as demonstrated here on America America, I’m relying on Steven not to mind my suggesting a few places to get other important information that supports our Democracy..
“The Warning” by Steve Schmidt also on Substack..Many of you may already be familiar with it..I encourage everyone to subscribe..In particular, his piece on the Fascist Christian Nationalism movement spreading across the country..
“Ultra” a podcast by Rachel Maddow is a frightening look into our history…Showing where we have been and how it is exactly where we are again in this moment..
“Gaslit Nation” also a podcast by Andrea Chalupa and Sarah Kendzior..A brash hard hitting exposé of the dire times we are in..
You've outlined the daunting challenges we face if righteousness and justice do not prevail on November 8th.
Whatever the outcome, though, we have no choice but to reclaim our country from the racists and fascists, the bigots and liars. Whether we win or lose, there is much work to be done in reconfiguring how we educate our children and in teaching people to shrug off the pall of superstition and dogma.
May all people of goodwill link arms and march forward together. A step at a time.
Thank you. I’m crying reading this. I have cycled between yes we can and no we can’t; between polls are never right(since 2016) and maybe this time they are; all the people who say nothing, where are they? Who do they support? I am taking so many deep breaths I may faint. I have no idea what November 9th or 10th will look like…
The first book I've seen that gives a historical perspective that teaches how we can get democracy back is Stuart Steven's "Its all a Lie". A good project for gov, legislative, and judicial students would be to read this book and write 1-3 pages that advises specifically what new legislation would right the ship of state, and WHY. Also read why democracy (from 1940): https://medium.com/liecatcher/why-democracy-928725232ba1
Simply saying you don't give up, does not educate. Education happens by doing the learning yourself.
Steve, thank you so much for this. Your post is exactly what should be in the minds of everyone who truly loves our country and the ideals we have been aspiring to for centuries. Your post has truth, balance, historical perspective and hope - something that we need so much now. Thank you.
Bravo Steven, I needed that positivity this morning !
Thanks. I needed this message today!
Thank you. I feel so much better than when I woke up this morning and thought about all of the issues you discussed so eloquently. You must be able to read my mind. Or great minds think alike. And your great mind writes out your thoughts so much better. Everything you wrote in your baker's dozen has been swirling in my head, sometimes waking me up at night, sometimes keeping me from getting to sleep, sometimes even interrupting my treadmill time, which beside being a good physical exercise, is supposed to be my relaxing time. I say to myself: is all of the chaos around us interfering with my exercise endorphin production. You are so right. We can't give up on what is correct and good and fair and honest. We can't give up on the dream that is America. We can't give up on the philosophy that is democracy. We have to hold tight to our values. We may take a slight, or maybe more than slight, hit in the short term; but as you say, we can't just give up and give in to the other side. If things don't go our way in this election cycle, and in the current series of attempts at voter suppression, hypocritical, unqualified candidates, potential prosecutions against 45 (I just can't use his name), we still have to send firm and have faith. And btw: I always tell you how it's great to be in this political support group, but I haven't told you that my neighbor in my condo development has a larger than life size cardboard cutout of 45 in her garage. She leave her garage door open open (probably just because she's carless), and just walking a few houses up to the condo mailboxes, I am traumatized by the larger than life-size cardboard 45 staring at me. I need to remind myself when walking to the mailboxes to look toward the left side of the street, to avoid having 45 literally in my face. Have a good weekend and thank you again for your wise words, your strong spirit of what is correct and why it matters that we stay strong and stay in this to win in the long run.
No, I’m not either..You have inspired me to take a different path in my thinking..However, these are desperate times that require desperate measures..We are in a fight fire with fire moment..we must meet this moment with strength, determination and outrage..In my view this begins with one necessary action..The removal of Trump from the equation..period..As I have said before...A fish rots from the head, cut off the head, the body wethers and dies..
Thanks Steven. I too am an optimist, although as I have said before, it is difficult. Very anxious times, but I still have the Kansas example in my head, and I do not feel that lies and hate are in a majority and that a great majority of Americans are better than the Trumps of the world. Bring them on!
Outstanding! I can lose clarity, but this has bolstered it!
I'm 64, I've put up with a lot of this negativity my entire life. So far it's all been progress, messy maybe, but progress. Of course our generation has seen and profited from the titanic benefit of the WW2 victory. I've never given up hope. Cynicism, otoh, has been a constant companion.
I appreciate and do love your steadfast optimism in the face of overwhelming odds. But the right wing fascists control the dark money, control the courts including the Supreme Court, have gerrymandered voting and in many states decimated voting rights, are gaining control of the press and possibly the secret service as well as the military. And the Democrats demonstrate an irritating cluelessness and ineptness to what has happened. Bottom lining it, the situation looks very grim.
Steven, you inspired me with your 'No I'm Not' post. In the face of so much 'sturm und drang' (German) i.e. 'storm and stress' occurring on the American tableau, is it even more important now to keep our faith in humanity, respect the rule of law and believe that justice will prevail. I agree with you about the unreliability of Polls, and the Media's proclivity to report on the sensational. Strong numbers in advance voting indicates to me that the often silent majority i.e. people who don't make great waves at political gatherings, are determined to set a clear course. I would like to think that every American would want to stand up for what is best for their country, as a whole. Those who were swayed by the machinations of megalomaniac #45, may have felt buoyed by a sense of unbridled power. A dark current of 'breaking bad' individuals surfaced like a malignancy, which if left unattended, can do great harm to democratic purpose. The shadow side of personality is a particular driver for bad behaviour, and so we must continually seek the light of truth, despite political distortions and disruption. I choose to have faith, that the 'better angels' will prevail. Godspeed America . * submitted by a Canadian : ) *
Thirteen reason! Just awesome. I’m not giving up because my parents, grandparents and great-grandparents didn’t give up. We are all a legacy of people who fought (hard) for what we believe in and to pass it to the next generation.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” - The Rev. Martin Luther King
In the furtherance of the Pro Democracy movement as demonstrated here on America America, I’m relying on Steven not to mind my suggesting a few places to get other important information that supports our Democracy..
“The Warning” by Steve Schmidt also on Substack..Many of you may already be familiar with it..I encourage everyone to subscribe..In particular, his piece on the Fascist Christian Nationalism movement spreading across the country..
“Ultra” a podcast by Rachel Maddow is a frightening look into our history…Showing where we have been and how it is exactly where we are again in this moment..
“Gaslit Nation” also a podcast by Andrea Chalupa and Sarah Kendzior..A brash hard hitting exposé of the dire times we are in..
Dear Steven,
You've outlined the daunting challenges we face if righteousness and justice do not prevail on November 8th.
Whatever the outcome, though, we have no choice but to reclaim our country from the racists and fascists, the bigots and liars. Whether we win or lose, there is much work to be done in reconfiguring how we educate our children and in teaching people to shrug off the pall of superstition and dogma.
May all people of goodwill link arms and march forward together. A step at a time.
Thank you. I’m crying reading this. I have cycled between yes we can and no we can’t; between polls are never right(since 2016) and maybe this time they are; all the people who say nothing, where are they? Who do they support? I am taking so many deep breaths I may faint. I have no idea what November 9th or 10th will look like…
The first book I've seen that gives a historical perspective that teaches how we can get democracy back is Stuart Steven's "Its all a Lie". A good project for gov, legislative, and judicial students would be to read this book and write 1-3 pages that advises specifically what new legislation would right the ship of state, and WHY. Also read why democracy (from 1940): https://medium.com/liecatcher/why-democracy-928725232ba1
Simply saying you don't give up, does not educate. Education happens by doing the learning yourself.