You nailed it, and I subscribed. Knowing where we are as a Nation, understanding why we are in this awful predicament, and analyzing how the forces of wealth, power, and prestige-----the 1% and their functionaries maintain this system are necessary to overcome it. I just think we can't use the master's tools to dismantle his house. Progressives, radicals, humanists, dissenting intellectuals, activists of all stripes need to take a page from the dissenters in the Sixties, Seventies, and Eighties in the Soviet Bloc and create parallel institutions outside the Government that promote community, healing, and sustenance. The Founders created a Republic for the wealthy; an active and informed minority can block change. We must work around them.
"They wish they could do something about it, but there are rules and norms and institutions. Never mind that those rules and norms and institutions were all explicitly designed, from the very beginning, to privilege a minority of the population. Or, more specifically, the same type of white, wealthy men who are still served by the government and its rules and norms and institutions. ."
What would happen if Biden said, "I'm directing the Secretary of the Treasury to continue to pay our bills, if you don't like it, sue me" (Yeah, I know, Biden being Biden, he wouldn't, but what if?)
When opposition to America’s war in Vietnam began to grow massive, suddenly there were Democrat candidates for office working hard to co-opt that energy. I well remember, in Lansing Michigan in 1971, the calls for activists to stop handing out protest flyers at factory gates and, instead, to pass out material for the local Democrat running for Congress. “Let’s take our opposition to this evil war right to Washington D.C. Joe Blow can make a real difference!”
Result? It took the local antiwar movement months to get Blow’s knife out of our back. Never hand your soul to the Democratic Party!
Sigh . . . I wish I could fault you connclusion Mr. Sexton, but I cannot. If I was younger, I would seek to become 'unchained,' but I am not . . . sigh.
Thank you again. Well thought out I think. I read this twice. Paradigms are operating. And paradigms are tough to work against. Our country was built on exploiting labor and resources so even Democrats for all their handwringing are operating out of that same foundational paradigm. That’s what needs busting open...that paradigm. I guess it makes sense that questioning and busting open the foundational paradigm needs to be grassroots. It is going to hurt though isn’t it? I think it amusing (in a dark humor sort of way) that our SCOTUS as well as all levels of elected representatives strut around like they are making independent decisions based in their exalted wisdom. Guess what? They too are puppets of the exploitive machine--of the paradigm. Only thing...when the greater number are left unstable--worrying about how to keep a roof over their head or food in their pantry--how safe are the rich minority so dependent on the paradigm? Especially when there are all those AK47s? A lot of nice people will suffer and be bewildered at the state of things when the paradigm busts open. But when the social safety net is totally gone and the 401Ks tank (which I think could happen with a default) I think even the rich will be surprised. I think all the apocalyptic stories in the last decades have been us wrestling with what we know at heart is wrong (there is the grassroots). Paradigms crack and leak slowly until they hit that tipping point and then things move swiftly. I am worried McCarthy’s default will be that tipping point. I hope I am wrong.
I think of all the times in the hundred years since the debt-limit law was passed when the Democrats had massive majorities (under Roosevelt*, under Johnson) when they could have quickly passed a repeal bill. Sure, some "fiscal conservatives" would have freaked out about it, and a week later nobody would remember it had happened.
*Come to think of it, ideal date to introduce a "repeal the debt limit" bill would have been Dec. 8, 1941.
In some ways the Democrats under Biden have so much competency but I guess not the political Capital to have dealt with the debt ceiling when we had the majority. I would have hoped for better leadership. I hope it wasn't intentional. Anyway Jared, what does unchaining ourselves look like in your opinion? I'd love to start taking some steps. I'm just waiting for us all to hit the streets once we all get fucked enough. We will have to hit bottom before that happens. The ladies tried it with the million pussy March which was an impressive display! Once we start to lose all our rights to the authoritarians I guess it will happen. Good luck to them trying to operate a society without us
"They [Dems] wish they could do something about it, but there are rules and norms and institutions,"
none of which (rules, norms, institutions) matter to or are followed by Republicans.
You nailed it, and I subscribed. Knowing where we are as a Nation, understanding why we are in this awful predicament, and analyzing how the forces of wealth, power, and prestige-----the 1% and their functionaries maintain this system are necessary to overcome it. I just think we can't use the master's tools to dismantle his house. Progressives, radicals, humanists, dissenting intellectuals, activists of all stripes need to take a page from the dissenters in the Sixties, Seventies, and Eighties in the Soviet Bloc and create parallel institutions outside the Government that promote community, healing, and sustenance. The Founders created a Republic for the wealthy; an active and informed minority can block change. We must work around them.
this says it all
..so frustrating
"They wish they could do something about it, but there are rules and norms and institutions. Never mind that those rules and norms and institutions were all explicitly designed, from the very beginning, to privilege a minority of the population. Or, more specifically, the same type of white, wealthy men who are still served by the government and its rules and norms and institutions. ."
What would happen if Biden said, "I'm directing the Secretary of the Treasury to continue to pay our bills, if you don't like it, sue me" (Yeah, I know, Biden being Biden, he wouldn't, but what if?)
When opposition to America’s war in Vietnam began to grow massive, suddenly there were Democrat candidates for office working hard to co-opt that energy. I well remember, in Lansing Michigan in 1971, the calls for activists to stop handing out protest flyers at factory gates and, instead, to pass out material for the local Democrat running for Congress. “Let’s take our opposition to this evil war right to Washington D.C. Joe Blow can make a real difference!”
Result? It took the local antiwar movement months to get Blow’s knife out of our back. Never hand your soul to the Democratic Party!
Sigh . . . I wish I could fault you connclusion Mr. Sexton, but I cannot. If I was younger, I would seek to become 'unchained,' but I am not . . . sigh.
Thank you again. Well thought out I think. I read this twice. Paradigms are operating. And paradigms are tough to work against. Our country was built on exploiting labor and resources so even Democrats for all their handwringing are operating out of that same foundational paradigm. That’s what needs busting open...that paradigm. I guess it makes sense that questioning and busting open the foundational paradigm needs to be grassroots. It is going to hurt though isn’t it? I think it amusing (in a dark humor sort of way) that our SCOTUS as well as all levels of elected representatives strut around like they are making independent decisions based in their exalted wisdom. Guess what? They too are puppets of the exploitive machine--of the paradigm. Only thing...when the greater number are left unstable--worrying about how to keep a roof over their head or food in their pantry--how safe are the rich minority so dependent on the paradigm? Especially when there are all those AK47s? A lot of nice people will suffer and be bewildered at the state of things when the paradigm busts open. But when the social safety net is totally gone and the 401Ks tank (which I think could happen with a default) I think even the rich will be surprised. I think all the apocalyptic stories in the last decades have been us wrestling with what we know at heart is wrong (there is the grassroots). Paradigms crack and leak slowly until they hit that tipping point and then things move swiftly. I am worried McCarthy’s default will be that tipping point. I hope I am wrong.
I think of all the times in the hundred years since the debt-limit law was passed when the Democrats had massive majorities (under Roosevelt*, under Johnson) when they could have quickly passed a repeal bill. Sure, some "fiscal conservatives" would have freaked out about it, and a week later nobody would remember it had happened.
*Come to think of it, ideal date to introduce a "repeal the debt limit" bill would have been Dec. 8, 1941.
In some ways the Democrats under Biden have so much competency but I guess not the political Capital to have dealt with the debt ceiling when we had the majority. I would have hoped for better leadership. I hope it wasn't intentional. Anyway Jared, what does unchaining ourselves look like in your opinion? I'd love to start taking some steps. I'm just waiting for us all to hit the streets once we all get fucked enough. We will have to hit bottom before that happens. The ladies tried it with the million pussy March which was an impressive display! Once we start to lose all our rights to the authoritarians I guess it will happen. Good luck to them trying to operate a society without us
“NEEDS FED” Are you from Pittsburgh or western PA by any chance? Cuz I am.