The phrase “Moral Clarity” has recently and rightly been awarded to AOC and Bishop Budde. It ALWAYS comes to my mind when I read your pieces. Many Thanks!
"People have a tendency to believe that others operate the way they do."
In 1978 (I was 16), a friend said smthg jokey-but-true that I've never forgotten: "People who tell the truth think everyone does; people who lie know better."
Bravo! Although the biggest barrier to "it is incumbent on us, however, to destroy these narratives and reveal the cruelty behind their policies" is the entrenched ability of fanatics to ignore unpleasant reality. To paraphrase Eric Hoffer, "Strength of faith manifests itself not in moving mountains but in refusing to see mountains move."
The Republican Party is about only a couple of things. The first is ever-greater concentration of wealth in the smallest possible number of hands. The second is to reshape American society in the most regressive manner possible. Apparently, this is the kind of government that a strong plurality of Americans want.
The thing about wealth is that all the money in world is ultimately worth nothing. Money is a pure social construct. Ask any whale.
The story is told about the time that Kurt Vonnegut informed his pal, Joseph Heller, that their host, a hedge fund manager, had made more money in a single day than Heller had earned from his wildly popular novel Catch-22 over its whole history.
Heller responded – “Yes, but I have something he will never have . . . enough.”
Well, it has little or no INHERENT value (assuming we can figure out what that means), and of course Heller's point is well taken. But to say it has no value at all ("ultimately" doesn't add anything here, other than perhaps "you can't take it with you when you die"; but you can't take anything with you when you die) seems to me a misapperception: its "value" lies in what you can do with it. Possession of money gives one the power to command the labor and attention of others, to help or harm others, etc. Do you think that a "social construct" is for its constructedness somehow inauthentic or not valuable? A lot of things are social constructs. Society is one, in fact -- would you want to chuck society, too? I don't think you would. Me neither. Cheers.
You've compelled me to think. That's good. In retrospect I should have said that it's value is purely as a social construct. By saying what I did, I was taking a shot at the gold bugs, who really annoy me. Money is used in our society as a basic mechanism for exchange of goods, a means of subsistence (to purchase food and shelter) and reward for labor. My general impression of people who obsessively acquire huge heaps of it is that they are fundamentally sociopaths.
A federal judge in Seattle today blocked Trump’s unconstitutional end to birthright citizenship. It’s amazing to admit this, but that act took great courage. The judge surely knew this too. Trump and his toxic gang of thugs will now attempt to destroy the judge. Just watch the news coverage about the death threats and security surrounding the judge. This is what a crumbling democracy looks like. Fascism destroys any resistance. No authority is safe. Trump, like all dictators, believes he is a supreme being - an all powerful king with no critics, no limitations and no checks on his power. It’s heartening to see judges like this, and Bishop Budde, show true courage in the face of tyranny.
“We support the policies we support because we actually care about people.”
Agreed, absolutely. But voters have a very hard time believing any politician wants to improve voters’ lives. They doubt such pledges to serve the people and view them with suspicion. My theory is a bleak one. Liars are distrustful of everyone. Cheaters believe everyone cheats. You can’t bullshit a bullshitter. And most people struggling to make ends meet believe everyone is looking out for themselves first. Politicians are right up there with lawyers in the eyes of the public when judging the least honest people. Being an attorney myself for 25 years, I can say there are probably as many honest and dishonest lawyers as there are honest or dishonest plumbers, poets or engineers. Many people are honest, and some are not. But voters distrust politicians, and it seems the more hopeful, the more optimistic and the more selfless, the more voters doubt that person. Trump needn’t be doubted. He lies shamelessly with impunity. He says most of his vile thoughts out loud. He also plays upon voters emotions better than we do. It’s far easier to validate a person’s anger and resentment than to inspire hope. It shouldn’t be, but this is the bleak part about my theory. People are sad, depressed, tired, angry and dissatisfied. You’d think that would prove fertile ground for hope, but it hasn’t proven to be. People keep digging deeper and deeper into a pit of despair, as Trump urges them on. Any attempt to inspire hope in voters, to promise to raise wages, to reduce healthcare costs, to improve social services, are met with scorn from the right, who scream at voters not to believe it. The noise from the right, through Fox News, Joe Rogan, Twitter, etc., is so loud and pervasive it’s hard to overcome.
I was convinced Trump was finished. Hope and human decency would prevail, I was confident. Harris would finally be America’s first woman president. A woman of color at that. Trump would go down in history as the most unqualified, corrupt and incompetent president in history. He’d be convicted of stealing classified documents, of conspiring with fake electors, and of attempting insurrection, a coup carried out by a violent mob acting on his behalf and at his urging. His inaction as the attack unfolded would serve as proof of his intent. America would be free of him and his toxic movement. Instead, a third term seems more likely now than any sort of rebuke of Trumpism.
Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe his favorability will tank, his administration will prove toxic and voters will regret their choice. Maybe he will veer so far off course that even Republicans will finally abandon him. Maybe he will be impeached a third time, convicted and removed from power…leaving JD Vance in charge. Yeah, pretty hopeless.
Since you practice, you know "Donald and Elon cheated" is within the realm of plausible deniability, which is also right where Russians like their
The state AGs in the six blue swing states (GA is hopeless, even though there was that bombing there in the communities with the most marginalized people likely to vote Democratic) - AZ, NC, NV, PA, MI, and WI - need to open investigations after Ken Paxton said on video at CPAC that Elon assured him that "they had the swing states" AND Donald admitted after the "swearing in" where he really didn't take the oath that "Elon is really good with the voting machines".
They CHEATED. We all know it. And now that ICE is depriving Americans (they got a citizen and vet in Newark and accused him of "having fake papers") of their rights and these raids are happening in multiple cities, it's more likely than not that there is no standing problem.
There are computer scientists *from other countries* writing in asking officials to do an investigation.
Mueller She Wrote said she was going to reach out to the PA AG. One of them shouldn't have to handle this alone since it's more likely than not that Elon and Donald cheated in every swing state.
Why would those in power ever allow an investigation of what they themselves benefitted from? They'll just throw more chaff into the zone and make it impossible for most people to understand what is true. It will be Stop the Steal II. Right after the election I thought cheating had occurred, but many told me that our side simply didn't have 6-9 million voters show up to vote for Prez/VP, or enough of them voted 3rd party, on purpose. I don't know what exactly they based those numbers on, and I was told that we don't want our side to be sore losers like the other side had been in 2020. I think that, if they'd cheated in the swing states, they would have left less evidence behind for people to find, just to make it even harder to accuse and investigate and come back with findings casting real doubt on 2024. Trump will not willingly leave, and will send his most rabid and heavily armed out to make mayhem. And then he'll invoke some act that will allow him to suspend whatever liberties he wants to, just to "restore order" and voila! Full blown dictatorship. It is too late! He already has power, as do all the horrible ones controlling him. I just don't believe that will end well at all.
I did spell it out. You scrolled, wound yourself all up in a ball, and then panicked.
I said - and I quote – the six BLUE *STATE* Attorneys General should open investigations.
They are NOT federal attorneys. They are NOT members of Donald’s crooked DOJ.
There is something the computer scientists call the “Russian trail” that has been found not just in certain counties in Nevada (at least one stateside independent think tank has looked at it) AND CANADA, where Russia does not want democracy either, that has been found in election computers where the infrastructure has holes.
Yes, I know about states’ attorneys general. When she was MA Attorney General, Maura Healey sued the Trump 1.0 administration at least 18 times. Now she is Governor Healey. I also know that being at the state level will not allow them all the leeway they want or need to conduct investigations without blowback from the Rs and main state media in their states. Trump wants to use his federal powers to force states to heel. If he thought he could get away with it, he would enact retribution on those states that defy him. He and his minions seem to be testing the strength of the separation of powers right now. We are a union of 50 different state governments, that’s true, and for now it’s holding up a barrier to what they want to do everywhere in the country. I don’t doubt that the RW cheated and connived to seize power. I do doubt that this honest attempt at getting to the bottom of it will be allowed to proceed peacefully and efficaciously, yes, even at the states’ level. Fani Willis on line one...
Robyn, this is such a great piece and it's so true "It is incumbent on us, however, to destroy these narratives and reveal the cruelty behind their policies."
Now, without being sarcastic, I want to learn how.
Counternarratives are really the only effective thing. You can directly refute what they say, but it's a weak argumentative technique. Instead, we need to reframe the terms of the debate. Robyn suggests a few good ways!
You joke, but Republicans do not plan to reduce any costs, as doing so in any meaningful way would mean price controls and reduced profits. That’s not happening. Instead, they will simply bang the same depressing, dishonest drum to keep the poor and the working class from turning their anger towards them. Republicans will keep eating filet mignon with martinis while assuring the poor that Joe Biden simply did SO much damage, it will take at least a third term to fix things. It’s all about keeping the wealthy rich, and pointing the blame at democrats for all the problems of the working class. Because if the poor ever figured out that the wealthy are simply raiding the government till, and giving tax breaks to each other at the expense of social services and programs that help the masses, they’d rise up and smash thru the golden gated communities and take back the wealth.
The only way to deal with this crap is for us to revolt. Another war. It is the ONLY way to turn this shit around, even a little. And now the GOP'ers are looking at ways (ie. since they control ALL houses of Congress and the WH and the Courts) that Trump is allowed to run for a 3rd (then probably a 4th) Term. It's coming and if that doesn't piss you off enough to revolt, just submit to them! This is happening today!
I couldn't agree more, Robyn... and would just add that we need to make sure that their manufactured distractions don't drown out our actual messaging.
I'm forever reminded of how disingenuously GOPers cried about and battled over the phrase "basket of deplorables," so that everyone remembers THAT, but very few ever knew, and even fewer remember the actual POINT of Clinton's speech, which wasn't "Trump supporters are terrible," but that only SOME of them are. She was actually arguing that Democrats should listen to the other group of Trumpers and feel empathy with them.... the exact opposite of what GOPers claimed she said.
Narcissists are generally incapable of change. They will copy what they see works but without sincere energy behind actions the power of compassion falls flat rather quickly. Since many people are becoming more adept at recognizing narcissists and staying clear of them, it's quite possible they will just die out without anyone breeding with them or caring for them.
Cruel to be kind in the right measure
cruel to be kind is a very good sign
cruel to be kind means that I love you
Baby! You got to be cruel to be kind.
The phrase “Moral Clarity” has recently and rightly been awarded to AOC and Bishop Budde. It ALWAYS comes to my mind when I read your pieces. Many Thanks!
"People have a tendency to believe that others operate the way they do."
In 1978 (I was 16), a friend said smthg jokey-but-true that I've never forgotten: "People who tell the truth think everyone does; people who lie know better."
Be Bes. https://www.dalelyles.com/2025/01/18/more-thoughts-on-good-things/
Bravo! Although the biggest barrier to "it is incumbent on us, however, to destroy these narratives and reveal the cruelty behind their policies" is the entrenched ability of fanatics to ignore unpleasant reality. To paraphrase Eric Hoffer, "Strength of faith manifests itself not in moving mountains but in refusing to see mountains move."
The Republican Party is about only a couple of things. The first is ever-greater concentration of wealth in the smallest possible number of hands. The second is to reshape American society in the most regressive manner possible. Apparently, this is the kind of government that a strong plurality of Americans want.
The thing about wealth is that all the money in world is ultimately worth nothing. Money is a pure social construct. Ask any whale.
The story is told about the time that Kurt Vonnegut informed his pal, Joseph Heller, that their host, a hedge fund manager, had made more money in a single day than Heller had earned from his wildly popular novel Catch-22 over its whole history.
Heller responded – “Yes, but I have something he will never have . . . enough.”
Well, it has little or no INHERENT value (assuming we can figure out what that means), and of course Heller's point is well taken. But to say it has no value at all ("ultimately" doesn't add anything here, other than perhaps "you can't take it with you when you die"; but you can't take anything with you when you die) seems to me a misapperception: its "value" lies in what you can do with it. Possession of money gives one the power to command the labor and attention of others, to help or harm others, etc. Do you think that a "social construct" is for its constructedness somehow inauthentic or not valuable? A lot of things are social constructs. Society is one, in fact -- would you want to chuck society, too? I don't think you would. Me neither. Cheers.
You've compelled me to think. That's good. In retrospect I should have said that it's value is purely as a social construct. By saying what I did, I was taking a shot at the gold bugs, who really annoy me. Money is used in our society as a basic mechanism for exchange of goods, a means of subsistence (to purchase food and shelter) and reward for labor. My general impression of people who obsessively acquire huge heaps of it is that they are fundamentally sociopaths.
Well, no...I'm not a liar, but I am fully aware that all MAGAturds lie by reflex.
A federal judge in Seattle today blocked Trump’s unconstitutional end to birthright citizenship. It’s amazing to admit this, but that act took great courage. The judge surely knew this too. Trump and his toxic gang of thugs will now attempt to destroy the judge. Just watch the news coverage about the death threats and security surrounding the judge. This is what a crumbling democracy looks like. Fascism destroys any resistance. No authority is safe. Trump, like all dictators, believes he is a supreme being - an all powerful king with no critics, no limitations and no checks on his power. It’s heartening to see judges like this, and Bishop Budde, show true courage in the face of tyranny.
ICE is kicking the attorneys out of the detention centers
https://bsky.app/profile/reichlinmelnick.bsky.social/post/3lgh6ls4qn22b
“We support the policies we support because we actually care about people.”
Agreed, absolutely. But voters have a very hard time believing any politician wants to improve voters’ lives. They doubt such pledges to serve the people and view them with suspicion. My theory is a bleak one. Liars are distrustful of everyone. Cheaters believe everyone cheats. You can’t bullshit a bullshitter. And most people struggling to make ends meet believe everyone is looking out for themselves first. Politicians are right up there with lawyers in the eyes of the public when judging the least honest people. Being an attorney myself for 25 years, I can say there are probably as many honest and dishonest lawyers as there are honest or dishonest plumbers, poets or engineers. Many people are honest, and some are not. But voters distrust politicians, and it seems the more hopeful, the more optimistic and the more selfless, the more voters doubt that person. Trump needn’t be doubted. He lies shamelessly with impunity. He says most of his vile thoughts out loud. He also plays upon voters emotions better than we do. It’s far easier to validate a person’s anger and resentment than to inspire hope. It shouldn’t be, but this is the bleak part about my theory. People are sad, depressed, tired, angry and dissatisfied. You’d think that would prove fertile ground for hope, but it hasn’t proven to be. People keep digging deeper and deeper into a pit of despair, as Trump urges them on. Any attempt to inspire hope in voters, to promise to raise wages, to reduce healthcare costs, to improve social services, are met with scorn from the right, who scream at voters not to believe it. The noise from the right, through Fox News, Joe Rogan, Twitter, etc., is so loud and pervasive it’s hard to overcome.
I was convinced Trump was finished. Hope and human decency would prevail, I was confident. Harris would finally be America’s first woman president. A woman of color at that. Trump would go down in history as the most unqualified, corrupt and incompetent president in history. He’d be convicted of stealing classified documents, of conspiring with fake electors, and of attempting insurrection, a coup carried out by a violent mob acting on his behalf and at his urging. His inaction as the attack unfolded would serve as proof of his intent. America would be free of him and his toxic movement. Instead, a third term seems more likely now than any sort of rebuke of Trumpism.
Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe his favorability will tank, his administration will prove toxic and voters will regret their choice. Maybe he will veer so far off course that even Republicans will finally abandon him. Maybe he will be impeached a third time, convicted and removed from power…leaving JD Vance in charge. Yeah, pretty hopeless.
There's more now
https://www.wonkette.com/p/maga-is-trying-to-reframe-cruelty/comment/88712669
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2ciL8UYemc
Since you practice, you know "Donald and Elon cheated" is within the realm of plausible deniability, which is also right where Russians like their
The state AGs in the six blue swing states (GA is hopeless, even though there was that bombing there in the communities with the most marginalized people likely to vote Democratic) - AZ, NC, NV, PA, MI, and WI - need to open investigations after Ken Paxton said on video at CPAC that Elon assured him that "they had the swing states" AND Donald admitted after the "swearing in" where he really didn't take the oath that "Elon is really good with the voting machines".
They CHEATED. We all know it. And now that ICE is depriving Americans (they got a citizen and vet in Newark and accused him of "having fake papers") of their rights and these raids are happening in multiple cities, it's more likely than not that there is no standing problem.
There are computer scientists *from other countries* writing in asking officials to do an investigation.
https://bsky.app/profile/digitalmb.bsky.social/post/3lflvkgxfu22m
Mueller She Wrote said she was going to reach out to the PA AG. One of them shouldn't have to handle this alone since it's more likely than not that Elon and Donald cheated in every swing state.
I don’t think this should be let go.
https://bsky.app/profile/digitalmb.bsky.social/post/3lgecdxllmk2z
https://www.wonkette.com/p/trump-demands-insolent-bishop-lady/comment/87847961
Why would those in power ever allow an investigation of what they themselves benefitted from? They'll just throw more chaff into the zone and make it impossible for most people to understand what is true. It will be Stop the Steal II. Right after the election I thought cheating had occurred, but many told me that our side simply didn't have 6-9 million voters show up to vote for Prez/VP, or enough of them voted 3rd party, on purpose. I don't know what exactly they based those numbers on, and I was told that we don't want our side to be sore losers like the other side had been in 2020. I think that, if they'd cheated in the swing states, they would have left less evidence behind for people to find, just to make it even harder to accuse and investigate and come back with findings casting real doubt on 2024. Trump will not willingly leave, and will send his most rabid and heavily armed out to make mayhem. And then he'll invoke some act that will allow him to suspend whatever liberties he wants to, just to "restore order" and voila! Full blown dictatorship. It is too late! He already has power, as do all the horrible ones controlling him. I just don't believe that will end well at all.
Actually?
I did spell it out. You scrolled, wound yourself all up in a ball, and then panicked.
I said - and I quote – the six BLUE *STATE* Attorneys General should open investigations.
They are NOT federal attorneys. They are NOT members of Donald’s crooked DOJ.
There is something the computer scientists call the “Russian trail” that has been found not just in certain counties in Nevada (at least one stateside independent think tank has looked at it) AND CANADA, where Russia does not want democracy either, that has been found in election computers where the infrastructure has holes.
Yes, I know about states’ attorneys general. When she was MA Attorney General, Maura Healey sued the Trump 1.0 administration at least 18 times. Now she is Governor Healey. I also know that being at the state level will not allow them all the leeway they want or need to conduct investigations without blowback from the Rs and main state media in their states. Trump wants to use his federal powers to force states to heel. If he thought he could get away with it, he would enact retribution on those states that defy him. He and his minions seem to be testing the strength of the separation of powers right now. We are a union of 50 different state governments, that’s true, and for now it’s holding up a barrier to what they want to do everywhere in the country. I don’t doubt that the RW cheated and connived to seize power. I do doubt that this honest attempt at getting to the bottom of it will be allowed to proceed peacefully and efficaciously, yes, even at the states’ level. Fani Willis on line one...
"Why would those in power ever allow an investigation of what they themselves benefitted from?"
Stop. Stop. Take a breath.
Who exactly is it you believe I (or anyone else asking) would be asking to initiate the investigation ...?
Or put another way -- to whom is this "they" you refer?
Because I never said it should be a FEDERAL investigation.
I want to make sure
1 - we all understand how federalism works and
2 - we're all on the same page here.
It's the cruelty that appeals to the MAGAts. It's always been about cruelty. Nazi sadists.
Why isn't the $MELANIA meme coin called the $TRUMPET?
Bitchcoin?
"Bitchcoin". That's perfect!
Robyn, this is such a great piece and it's so true "It is incumbent on us, however, to destroy these narratives and reveal the cruelty behind their policies."
Now, without being sarcastic, I want to learn how.
Counternarratives are really the only effective thing. You can directly refute what they say, but it's a weak argumentative technique. Instead, we need to reframe the terms of the debate. Robyn suggests a few good ways!
Pontius Pilate is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.
I was told Egg prices would be lower. Why do they continue to go up? Did Joe Biden kill all the chickens?
You joke, but Republicans do not plan to reduce any costs, as doing so in any meaningful way would mean price controls and reduced profits. That’s not happening. Instead, they will simply bang the same depressing, dishonest drum to keep the poor and the working class from turning their anger towards them. Republicans will keep eating filet mignon with martinis while assuring the poor that Joe Biden simply did SO much damage, it will take at least a third term to fix things. It’s all about keeping the wealthy rich, and pointing the blame at democrats for all the problems of the working class. Because if the poor ever figured out that the wealthy are simply raiding the government till, and giving tax breaks to each other at the expense of social services and programs that help the masses, they’d rise up and smash thru the golden gated communities and take back the wealth.
The only way to deal with this crap is for us to revolt. Another war. It is the ONLY way to turn this shit around, even a little. And now the GOP'ers are looking at ways (ie. since they control ALL houses of Congress and the WH and the Courts) that Trump is allowed to run for a 3rd (then probably a 4th) Term. It's coming and if that doesn't piss you off enough to revolt, just submit to them! This is happening today!
I couldn't agree more, Robyn... and would just add that we need to make sure that their manufactured distractions don't drown out our actual messaging.
I'm forever reminded of how disingenuously GOPers cried about and battled over the phrase "basket of deplorables," so that everyone remembers THAT, but very few ever knew, and even fewer remember the actual POINT of Clinton's speech, which wasn't "Trump supporters are terrible," but that only SOME of them are. She was actually arguing that Democrats should listen to the other group of Trumpers and feel empathy with them.... the exact opposite of what GOPers claimed she said.
Goopers are good at editing for awful.
Yes, they want to play victim so badly.
Narcissists are generally incapable of change. They will copy what they see works but without sincere energy behind actions the power of compassion falls flat rather quickly. Since many people are becoming more adept at recognizing narcissists and staying clear of them, it's quite possible they will just die out without anyone breeding with them or caring for them.