I am a white 78 year old woman. I am so angry that Joy Reid was let go/fired. Is there anything I can do to share my anger at the head of MSNBC OR can you let Joy know that she has a fan club of white old ladies.
Great article and even better talking points to make when calling your Congressional representatives. For example if calling a Republican, “I am very angry that you voted to pass a budget that will only benefit the richest people and cut Medicaid and food stamps for the most vulnerable citizens. By doing so you have not only abandoned your duty to serve your district and your country, you have clearly shown your true values are helping the rich and robbing the poor.” For calling a Democrat, “Thank you for voting against the disastrous budget the House Republicans passed. I expect you to fight for our rights and grind down the Republicans on every single bill they bring to the floor. This is no time to choose your battles - they are all battles to be fought.”
All of this is correct, and furthermore, full of truths that every last American needs to be cognizant of. And here's the rub: frightened and uncertain people are prey for every kind of unscrupulous bastard who wants a grift. Their fear makes them grasp at straws, and swallow the cons dangled before them. It is pathetically easy to turn the anger that feeling frightened and unsure can arouse onto "straw men" like 'the Libs' and 'the immigrants.' We live in perilous times and need to, as Anand has begun reminding us, become more psychologically aware to counter this--I won't call it a trend, but a tidal wave--of ignorance and panic, and to correctly identify the real bad actors, which is the billionaire class whose acts (sending jobs overseas, changing the tax code in their favor, taking over social and other media with their self-serving perspectives) have contributed insult in addition to the injury of the stressful cultural changes impacting the working and middle classes. Without a thoroughgoing social-psychological understanding we can't begin to craft messages and initiatives to address the situation effectively.
The excellent point made is how easy it was to tear down the perception of "government is good" with incessant repetition. It seems that what is needed is a PR campaign where the advertising tricks to get people to buy unnecessary and stupid things be applied to reversing the public ignorance about all the benefits outlined in the essay. Government needs powerful allies. The Dems? not so much in this crop of politicians. Better to tell the stories of "real" folks (actually a curated collection of white people who rely on government and who do not "threaten" the supremacists among us revealing their dependence on help paying for medications, or remarkable surgeries, or life-extending research, or getting grants to get an education, etc). The tales dare not be told by a diverse group of beneficiaries, lest they be dubbed "welfare queens." I'd personally like to hear from scientists tell the stories of their discoveries and how they benefit society, but I realize eggheads are not always the best salespeople and there is such resentment against experts ginned up by the ignorant ruling party and its minions.
One thing to do just to start is to share this widely, and look for opportunities to talk to the people in your lives about it and be there to discuss it when they're ready to come around! Informing people is a long game!
Thank you for this. We get so much more back from the government than what we put in every tax season. Two things jump out: any savings will not trickle down to everyone but will go instead to billionaires. And when services and financial programs and research are gone, we’ll realize we have to recreate them - but it will cost a lot more. How stupid is all of this?!?!
The events of the past few weeks are dangerous and unprecedented for America. Thanks to Anand for all your efforts to share information and educate us on the serious of the times. It is time to depart from business as unusual. The pressure on Republicans to vote in favor of Trump can not be underestimated.
My suggestion is for a grassroots effort of the public to strongly encourage our Republican representatives and senators to convert to become Democrats to save America and democracy. We don't have time to wait until mid-term elections. This is a five-alarm fire, we must respond as such to get the fire under control. We only need 5-10 Republicans to switch to Democrats. I realize that this is extreme but we need extreme measures before we lose our wonderful America! This would switch the House and Senate under Democrat control. We need this now!
That sounds great in an ideal world but not enough Repubs who knew better voted against the horrific cabinet members. They hold onto their jobs even though they barely do any work and get paid salary, benes and insider stock info and probably $ from hidden donors. They shud get fired and have to go out into the real world and get a job. Dumpy and Musk threaten them and they are too afraid to go against them so what will make them unafraid enough to make different choices? To stand up to the ongoing bullying? To be willing to risk losing their job, their status, the extra perks, and put themselves in danger like everyone who has spoken out against Maga-Cheney, Kinzinger…. I’m not sure they would roll over to the Dems. But could enough of them be enticed to quit their role in Congress? Would someone like Marc Cuban a billionaire be able to offer them alternative work?
As a young man finishing my senior year of university when Reagan was elected, I was totally bought in to his shtick. It came naturally being raised in an anti-union Republican household where my father and his colleagues were managers in a large earth moving equipment manufacturer. However when you have a preexisting health condition. life has its own unique way of opening your eyes. A stable job with health insurance was an absolute necessity when you start a family. I never wanted a government job but in the end it was the best thing that ever happened. I worked with other hardworking dedicated professionals in both city government as well as the federal government, and we got the work done in spite of the politicians always gumming things up. Now that I’m retired, I feel the pain of my friends who unluckily are still on the job.
After a foreign country had a visibly corrupt President, voted into power more than once, we visited this ancient land. It appeared sullen,bedraggled, disappointing, chaotic, dirty. That's what life looks like in countries eschewing government.
The Ink has really kicked it into high gear! Thank you for all the thoughtful content you are now providing. Being a paid subscriber is a great value toward understanding current events and maintaining an even keel mentally. Kudos!
My dad worked for the labor department in Washington. We were so proud of him being involved in the amazing government of the United States of America. We moved to DC when I started high school and I soaked up everything about the government. During school we visited the Russian embassy and my teacher taught us about propaganda. I called the Food and Drug Administration to learn about what they do for another project. Right away I learned that DC is the center of the free world and these rich fascist oligarch people are trying to take it away! We have to stop them!!
Do you really think that they don't have a plan to ensure that why you may be able to vote that your vote will ultimately not matter. They can't possibly be OK with any serious risk of the Democratic Party taking power in two or four years. The save act is likely part of this plan that could be implemented in many states such that married women without passports are seriously encumbered to exercise their voting rights. I doubt seriously that's the last of their plan.
I am a white 78 year old woman. I am so angry that Joy Reid was let go/fired. Is there anything I can do to share my anger at the head of MSNBC OR can you let Joy know that she has a fan club of white old ladies.
THANKS for all YOU DO! ! 1
Joy, happens to be one of the smartest people on MSNBC.
Great article and even better talking points to make when calling your Congressional representatives. For example if calling a Republican, “I am very angry that you voted to pass a budget that will only benefit the richest people and cut Medicaid and food stamps for the most vulnerable citizens. By doing so you have not only abandoned your duty to serve your district and your country, you have clearly shown your true values are helping the rich and robbing the poor.” For calling a Democrat, “Thank you for voting against the disastrous budget the House Republicans passed. I expect you to fight for our rights and grind down the Republicans on every single bill they bring to the floor. This is no time to choose your battles - they are all battles to be fought.”
All of this is correct, and furthermore, full of truths that every last American needs to be cognizant of. And here's the rub: frightened and uncertain people are prey for every kind of unscrupulous bastard who wants a grift. Their fear makes them grasp at straws, and swallow the cons dangled before them. It is pathetically easy to turn the anger that feeling frightened and unsure can arouse onto "straw men" like 'the Libs' and 'the immigrants.' We live in perilous times and need to, as Anand has begun reminding us, become more psychologically aware to counter this--I won't call it a trend, but a tidal wave--of ignorance and panic, and to correctly identify the real bad actors, which is the billionaire class whose acts (sending jobs overseas, changing the tax code in their favor, taking over social and other media with their self-serving perspectives) have contributed insult in addition to the injury of the stressful cultural changes impacting the working and middle classes. Without a thoroughgoing social-psychological understanding we can't begin to craft messages and initiatives to address the situation effectively.
Time for massive demonstrations. The pitchforks are coming.
The excellent point made is how easy it was to tear down the perception of "government is good" with incessant repetition. It seems that what is needed is a PR campaign where the advertising tricks to get people to buy unnecessary and stupid things be applied to reversing the public ignorance about all the benefits outlined in the essay. Government needs powerful allies. The Dems? not so much in this crop of politicians. Better to tell the stories of "real" folks (actually a curated collection of white people who rely on government and who do not "threaten" the supremacists among us revealing their dependence on help paying for medications, or remarkable surgeries, or life-extending research, or getting grants to get an education, etc). The tales dare not be told by a diverse group of beneficiaries, lest they be dubbed "welfare queens." I'd personally like to hear from scientists tell the stories of their discoveries and how they benefit society, but I realize eggheads are not always the best salespeople and there is such resentment against experts ginned up by the ignorant ruling party and its minions.
Eggheads, not heard that one in a long time.
How do we get this excellent explanation out to the people who need it most…the Fox News fans?
Out to a public who needs the FACTS of how government affects their lives, not more lies?
One thing to do just to start is to share this widely, and look for opportunities to talk to the people in your lives about it and be there to discuss it when they're ready to come around! Informing people is a long game!
They will not react until they feel it directly. It is all abstract till then.
Excellent piece.
Thank you to our federal employees!
Succinct and accurate. Share widely!
Thank you for this. We get so much more back from the government than what we put in every tax season. Two things jump out: any savings will not trickle down to everyone but will go instead to billionaires. And when services and financial programs and research are gone, we’ll realize we have to recreate them - but it will cost a lot more. How stupid is all of this?!?!
This should be required reading at every public level and institution and shared on every social platform.
What an important and motivating piece. Yikes! We had better keep crowing from our rooftops and calling and protesting. Here we go!♥️
The events of the past few weeks are dangerous and unprecedented for America. Thanks to Anand for all your efforts to share information and educate us on the serious of the times. It is time to depart from business as unusual. The pressure on Republicans to vote in favor of Trump can not be underestimated.
My suggestion is for a grassroots effort of the public to strongly encourage our Republican representatives and senators to convert to become Democrats to save America and democracy. We don't have time to wait until mid-term elections. This is a five-alarm fire, we must respond as such to get the fire under control. We only need 5-10 Republicans to switch to Democrats. I realize that this is extreme but we need extreme measures before we lose our wonderful America! This would switch the House and Senate under Democrat control. We need this now!
That sounds great in an ideal world but not enough Repubs who knew better voted against the horrific cabinet members. They hold onto their jobs even though they barely do any work and get paid salary, benes and insider stock info and probably $ from hidden donors. They shud get fired and have to go out into the real world and get a job. Dumpy and Musk threaten them and they are too afraid to go against them so what will make them unafraid enough to make different choices? To stand up to the ongoing bullying? To be willing to risk losing their job, their status, the extra perks, and put themselves in danger like everyone who has spoken out against Maga-Cheney, Kinzinger…. I’m not sure they would roll over to the Dems. But could enough of them be enticed to quit their role in Congress? Would someone like Marc Cuban a billionaire be able to offer them alternative work?
As a young man finishing my senior year of university when Reagan was elected, I was totally bought in to his shtick. It came naturally being raised in an anti-union Republican household where my father and his colleagues were managers in a large earth moving equipment manufacturer. However when you have a preexisting health condition. life has its own unique way of opening your eyes. A stable job with health insurance was an absolute necessity when you start a family. I never wanted a government job but in the end it was the best thing that ever happened. I worked with other hardworking dedicated professionals in both city government as well as the federal government, and we got the work done in spite of the politicians always gumming things up. Now that I’m retired, I feel the pain of my friends who unluckily are still on the job.
After a foreign country had a visibly corrupt President, voted into power more than once, we visited this ancient land. It appeared sullen,bedraggled, disappointing, chaotic, dirty. That's what life looks like in countries eschewing government.
The Ink has really kicked it into high gear! Thank you for all the thoughtful content you are now providing. Being a paid subscriber is a great value toward understanding current events and maintaining an even keel mentally. Kudos!
My dad worked for the labor department in Washington. We were so proud of him being involved in the amazing government of the United States of America. We moved to DC when I started high school and I soaked up everything about the government. During school we visited the Russian embassy and my teacher taught us about propaganda. I called the Food and Drug Administration to learn about what they do for another project. Right away I learned that DC is the center of the free world and these rich fascist oligarch people are trying to take it away! We have to stop them!!
Do you really think that they don't have a plan to ensure that why you may be able to vote that your vote will ultimately not matter. They can't possibly be OK with any serious risk of the Democratic Party taking power in two or four years. The save act is likely part of this plan that could be implemented in many states such that married women without passports are seriously encumbered to exercise their voting rights. I doubt seriously that's the last of their plan.