So apparently at a news conference the other day, a reporter asked Trump who authorized the stoppage of arms to Ukraine, to which he responded, "I don't know. Why don't you tell me." My husband and I laughed out loud at this but of course it's not the least bit funny. It's ridiculous. Now, if the reporter had responded, "Well I don't know, but you are the President of the U.S. Shouldn't you know?" Trump would have no doubt said, "You are a very mean person. You know that?" And his supporters would have jumped to his defence saying, "stop the hate". Any sane person realizes this has got nothing to do with hate. It is a very legitimate and serious question that requires a serious response.
Always, always get so much from your conversations with Anat. What stands out to me is your ability to show that the 'too complicated' stuff/issues are just too many stirred in together. Individually, they may be hard, but the basics are NOT hard to understand. So yeah, finer minds than the main face of the current regime have worked for years devising the best methods of getting their agenda in place. They have learned that repeating and repeating their lies, their upholding of 'what is best for America' works because we're too busy arguing about which issues are the most important. Now, imo, our democracy must be the One basic issue for us. Is any of the rest possible without it?
But here's the thing, in a world of 8 billion people, you can be pretty sure that whatever you are thinking about a situation, many others are thinking as well even if they haven't said it yet. Where's the courage?
I use concentration camp. I hate alligator alcatraz…actually implies it is a legit prison. Besides the disgusting alliteration. From what I can tell, maximum security prisoners have better conditions and actual rights. If we round up people under questionable legality ‘snatch them’ and stash them with maggot infested food, no beds, respect, baths, etc. , what the fuck is that but a concentration camp? Steve McQueen and John Wayne showed us exactly what they are in how many WWII movies. This intellectualizing and marketing way of trying to test what messages land is some algorithmic horse shit. Call it what it is: CONCENTRATION CAMP. We would get more attention and commitment by using authentic language and showing real human feelings when we speak. That would be actual leadership. Genuine, accountable and realistic including a dispassionate assessment of risk. It’s scary. ‘Cause you can die .
A nit- some of the sound wasn’t great. A number of key words from Anat got dropped.
More substantively- I wish her argument was a little tighter. I was following it closely then it felt she was going into a vibes thing when she talked about not wanting to go to someone’s party etc. I have a self styled “moderate Dem” I talk to a lot about this and it drives me crazy bc to me “moderate” implies somewhere between 2 legitimate positions. Other than the donor class afraid of higher taxes and giving up power it’s important for normals to know why strategically the middle doesn’t work. Based on this important conversation I don’t think I could go back to this person and explain why moderate is not the way. I mean, historically has it been shown that authoritarian regimes are never defeated by moderate politics?
Maybe the framing is just messed up to begin with. Moderate can’t choose as one of its poles the fascism that needs to be defeated.
Anand, you are so sentient. But young --and the thing that drives me nuts is your overuse of the word, "LIKE" It slows down and weakens the excellent point you are making. Be aware of this so your points flow ad aren't choppy. I didn't hear the term NAZI STORM TROOPERS to replace the term ICE agents. Y'all oughtta be using those terms, too.
Love the idea of billboards! I did not know the billboards were cheap. I honestly think this low tech solution would be so great… People drive, people can’t avoid reading a billboard. Pity, concise statements. Shouldn’t be hard to do.
So apparently at a news conference the other day, a reporter asked Trump who authorized the stoppage of arms to Ukraine, to which he responded, "I don't know. Why don't you tell me." My husband and I laughed out loud at this but of course it's not the least bit funny. It's ridiculous. Now, if the reporter had responded, "Well I don't know, but you are the President of the U.S. Shouldn't you know?" Trump would have no doubt said, "You are a very mean person. You know that?" And his supporters would have jumped to his defence saying, "stop the hate". Any sane person realizes this has got nothing to do with hate. It is a very legitimate and serious question that requires a serious response.
Reporters in the US are apparently incapable of asking follow-up questions
Love your cat!!! I completely agree!!!
Always, always get so much from your conversations with Anat. What stands out to me is your ability to show that the 'too complicated' stuff/issues are just too many stirred in together. Individually, they may be hard, but the basics are NOT hard to understand. So yeah, finer minds than the main face of the current regime have worked for years devising the best methods of getting their agenda in place. They have learned that repeating and repeating their lies, their upholding of 'what is best for America' works because we're too busy arguing about which issues are the most important. Now, imo, our democracy must be the One basic issue for us. Is any of the rest possible without it?
Excellent interview pls send to every elected Democrat
Absolutely, it's a concentration camp...and we are witnessing the American people normalize it just as they did in Germany...
But here's the thing, in a world of 8 billion people, you can be pretty sure that whatever you are thinking about a situation, many others are thinking as well even if they haven't said it yet. Where's the courage?
I use concentration camp. I hate alligator alcatraz…actually implies it is a legit prison. Besides the disgusting alliteration. From what I can tell, maximum security prisoners have better conditions and actual rights. If we round up people under questionable legality ‘snatch them’ and stash them with maggot infested food, no beds, respect, baths, etc. , what the fuck is that but a concentration camp? Steve McQueen and John Wayne showed us exactly what they are in how many WWII movies. This intellectualizing and marketing way of trying to test what messages land is some algorithmic horse shit. Call it what it is: CONCENTRATION CAMP. We would get more attention and commitment by using authentic language and showing real human feelings when we speak. That would be actual leadership. Genuine, accountable and realistic including a dispassionate assessment of risk. It’s scary. ‘Cause you can die .
Alligator Auschwitz seems more appropriate.
FDR -- magnetic
Someone is always benefiting, if only in the short term, for making sure things DON'T change.
A nit- some of the sound wasn’t great. A number of key words from Anat got dropped.
More substantively- I wish her argument was a little tighter. I was following it closely then it felt she was going into a vibes thing when she talked about not wanting to go to someone’s party etc. I have a self styled “moderate Dem” I talk to a lot about this and it drives me crazy bc to me “moderate” implies somewhere between 2 legitimate positions. Other than the donor class afraid of higher taxes and giving up power it’s important for normals to know why strategically the middle doesn’t work. Based on this important conversation I don’t think I could go back to this person and explain why moderate is not the way. I mean, historically has it been shown that authoritarian regimes are never defeated by moderate politics?
Maybe the framing is just messed up to begin with. Moderate can’t choose as one of its poles the fascism that needs to be defeated.
Maybe “left” doesn’t make sense either.
Anand, you are so sentient. But young --and the thing that drives me nuts is your overuse of the word, "LIKE" It slows down and weakens the excellent point you are making. Be aware of this so your points flow ad aren't choppy. I didn't hear the term NAZI STORM TROOPERS to replace the term ICE agents. Y'all oughtta be using those terms, too.
Love the idea of billboards! I did not know the billboards were cheap. I honestly think this low tech solution would be so great… People drive, people can’t avoid reading a billboard. Pity, concise statements. Shouldn’t be hard to do.
Institutions are where movements go to die. It’s capitalism, really.
TY. AOC. Moore, Pritzker. Yes, a concentration camp in FL, not that other phrase. Seriously.
Powerful conversation, as always.
Billions available and not used