Wow! Did you call it or what?? But who could have forecast Trump, with the active involvement of Russia? And God help us with 2024 with malign influences from Russia and the new tool of AI "inventing" words and actions that Dems never said or did. I am concerned that, as in 2016, we will be bringing a knife to a gunfight. Would very much appreciate your prognostications and suggestions on those possibilities! Many thanks to you for what you are doing!
Ten years after you wrote that great piece, Republicans have only moved even more to the extreme and, encouraged by Trump, to a decided preference for autocracy vs. democracy. We are very fortunate to now have not one but two younger generations totally opposed to their programs and candidates. If we work hard, 2024 should be the year we move from simply trying to contain the threat to democracy MAGA ism poses to defeating it at every level of the ballot, thanks to the rising power of Millennials and Plurals (Gen z) in the electorate. Thanks to all the "HOPEfuls" you energize daily, the threat to democracy is about to see its greatest defeat yet.
Right on, Simon. You not only have a pulse on the current situation but a long term perspective and context we can all -- hopefully -- learn from.
Mike Johnson . . . I don't know about others, but I have a sinking feeling I can't shake today about what this bodes for us, for our country. I guess I was counting more than I recognized on the Repubs having to eventually come to some agreement with Dems. I didn't really think all would cave. How naive.
I will muster my hope for this somehow being a turning point for the good. In any case, not a moment to lose -- onto even greater efforts for 2024.
Looking forward to hearing more on "The Nomination of Mike Johnson Is A Dark Moment For American Democracy" particularly since he has now been elected. I'm pretty sure I agree that he is an extremist (Christian Nationalist??) I had a sickening sinking feeling when I read more about him and saw the video of him speaking with house members behind him. He seems slick (in a not good way) where you always saw Jordan coming a mile away.
The MAGA GOP has been itching to bring their proto-pious, white nationalist, anti-women, anti-personal freedom, voter suppression, fascist agenda to the American people..now they can try to do it!!! And they will be lucky to get the 25%-30% of the vote they so fully deserve.
I'm hoping Mike Johnson helps the MAGA achieve the same traction as Ron DeDantis!!
I noted that Romney was at the center at that time. He hasn't changed much, but has held his center. However, his center is now at the fringes of what was the Republican Party. The people considered "moderate Republican" are, for the most part, to the right of Romney. There are some people who consider themselves "traditional Republicans" (I question their self-definition) who are further to the right: they are not conservative, but reactionary, a substantial difference). And they all stand away from the Extremist group who are Republican only for the ballot. This is where the "GOP" has ended up.
What worries me the most is that the "moderates" and "conservatives" in the Republican "party" seem, for the most part, unwilling to take a stand against what their party has become. In their place are, as many have implied, the moneyed PACs and "think tanks" making decisions about what the upcoming election will be, and the still unknown outside influences that could shape the outcome of the election.
We no longer have a two party system. That could mean that the Dems have a wide-open field. But there are signs that those outside influences are also at work on the Dems (for instance, the attempts to picture Biden as incompetent, and some people actually buying into it- in the face of extraordinary evidence to the contrary. Other attempts to divide the Dems, particularly at the state level. Who benefits? Those who created the fractures in a once vital, progressive Republican Party. Guess who.
Very prescient. And now we have to defeat the reactionary forces once more. It's time for a world of possibility and not one tottering on the brink of the abyss. I've been thinking a lot about not just Universal Human Rights, but also about what might constitute Universal Human Values. We could start with absolutely not accepting terrorism in all its brutal forms as a legitimate means to an end.
Thank you for sharing your piece of history, Simon. Full disclosure history is always an eye opener. I lived through those times but of course much younger, starting our family (VERY young) and in the N Central US & then TX. Now on west coast. This was a great read and in retrospect I can appreciate location and life circumstances in those times and comparing my maturity then compared to my grandchildren now, you’re pretty spot on!
I think one of the main factors leading to the rise of rightwing autocracy has been the way globalization has been implemented by our government over the past 30-40 years. These "free" trade deals redistributed income to the wealthiest top 10% of society at the expense of the remaining 90%. These neoliberal economic policies, supported by both GOP and Democratic politicians (ie. Clinton and to a lesser extent Obama), had the explicit purpose of squeezing America's middle class, reducing its economic and thus political bargaining power. These policies have been a major factor leading to the extreme inequality we face today in this country. The GOP, captured by America's rightwing corporate oligarchs with their vast financial resources and powerful media machine, have capitalized on the middle class anger and anxiety caused by these "globalist" policies to advance their age old goal of establishing a reactionary political autocracy in America.
John, if this were true, why did incomes, wages, medium wealth go up so much under Clinton? You've seen all the charts and graphs I share here. As someone who worked for Clinton the idea that his policies were designed to hurt the middle class rather than help them is lol ridiculous. The American middle class and the economy prospered under Clinton.
Yeah I don't know why Clinton pushed those trade policies that squeezed the middle class, but that's what happened. The resulting job losses really took off during the subsequent Bush admin, when millions of good paying manufacturing jobs decamped to China to be replaced by....? Yes the economy was prosperous in the late 90s during Clinton's admin due to the tech stock bubble, which collapsed just after he left office and resulted in a pretty severe recession. Not to mention the financial deregulation that occurred under his watch led to the growth of the housing bubble, which of course burst and brought us the Great Recession. Fortunately, President Biden appears to be moving on from this legacy.
Wow! Did you call it or what?? But who could have forecast Trump, with the active involvement of Russia? And God help us with 2024 with malign influences from Russia and the new tool of AI "inventing" words and actions that Dems never said or did. I am concerned that, as in 2016, we will be bringing a knife to a gunfight. Would very much appreciate your prognostications and suggestions on those possibilities! Many thanks to you for what you are doing!
Ten years after you wrote that great piece, Republicans have only moved even more to the extreme and, encouraged by Trump, to a decided preference for autocracy vs. democracy. We are very fortunate to now have not one but two younger generations totally opposed to their programs and candidates. If we work hard, 2024 should be the year we move from simply trying to contain the threat to democracy MAGA ism poses to defeating it at every level of the ballot, thanks to the rising power of Millennials and Plurals (Gen z) in the electorate. Thanks to all the "HOPEfuls" you energize daily, the threat to democracy is about to see its greatest defeat yet.
Right on, Simon. You not only have a pulse on the current situation but a long term perspective and context we can all -- hopefully -- learn from.
Mike Johnson . . . I don't know about others, but I have a sinking feeling I can't shake today about what this bodes for us, for our country. I guess I was counting more than I recognized on the Repubs having to eventually come to some agreement with Dems. I didn't really think all would cave. How naive.
I will muster my hope for this somehow being a turning point for the good. In any case, not a moment to lose -- onto even greater efforts for 2024.
Yes -- GOP voters didn't like demographic reality at all. And here we are.
Looking forward to hearing more on "The Nomination of Mike Johnson Is A Dark Moment For American Democracy" particularly since he has now been elected. I'm pretty sure I agree that he is an extremist (Christian Nationalist??) I had a sickening sinking feeling when I read more about him and saw the video of him speaking with house members behind him. He seems slick (in a not good way) where you always saw Jordan coming a mile away.
The MAGA GOP has been itching to bring their proto-pious, white nationalist, anti-women, anti-personal freedom, voter suppression, fascist agenda to the American people..now they can try to do it!!! And they will be lucky to get the 25%-30% of the vote they so fully deserve.
I'm hoping Mike Johnson helps the MAGA achieve the same traction as Ron DeDantis!!
I noted that Romney was at the center at that time. He hasn't changed much, but has held his center. However, his center is now at the fringes of what was the Republican Party. The people considered "moderate Republican" are, for the most part, to the right of Romney. There are some people who consider themselves "traditional Republicans" (I question their self-definition) who are further to the right: they are not conservative, but reactionary, a substantial difference). And they all stand away from the Extremist group who are Republican only for the ballot. This is where the "GOP" has ended up.
What worries me the most is that the "moderates" and "conservatives" in the Republican "party" seem, for the most part, unwilling to take a stand against what their party has become. In their place are, as many have implied, the moneyed PACs and "think tanks" making decisions about what the upcoming election will be, and the still unknown outside influences that could shape the outcome of the election.
We no longer have a two party system. That could mean that the Dems have a wide-open field. But there are signs that those outside influences are also at work on the Dems (for instance, the attempts to picture Biden as incompetent, and some people actually buying into it- in the face of extraordinary evidence to the contrary. Other attempts to divide the Dems, particularly at the state level. Who benefits? Those who created the fractures in a once vital, progressive Republican Party. Guess who.
We got work to do if we want a democracy.
Very prescient. And now we have to defeat the reactionary forces once more. It's time for a world of possibility and not one tottering on the brink of the abyss. I've been thinking a lot about not just Universal Human Rights, but also about what might constitute Universal Human Values. We could start with absolutely not accepting terrorism in all its brutal forms as a legitimate means to an end.
Eyes wide open! Thank you, Simon.
Thank you for sharing your piece of history, Simon. Full disclosure history is always an eye opener. I lived through those times but of course much younger, starting our family (VERY young) and in the N Central US & then TX. Now on west coast. This was a great read and in retrospect I can appreciate location and life circumstances in those times and comparing my maturity then compared to my grandchildren now, you’re pretty spot on!
I think one of the main factors leading to the rise of rightwing autocracy has been the way globalization has been implemented by our government over the past 30-40 years. These "free" trade deals redistributed income to the wealthiest top 10% of society at the expense of the remaining 90%. These neoliberal economic policies, supported by both GOP and Democratic politicians (ie. Clinton and to a lesser extent Obama), had the explicit purpose of squeezing America's middle class, reducing its economic and thus political bargaining power. These policies have been a major factor leading to the extreme inequality we face today in this country. The GOP, captured by America's rightwing corporate oligarchs with their vast financial resources and powerful media machine, have capitalized on the middle class anger and anxiety caused by these "globalist" policies to advance their age old goal of establishing a reactionary political autocracy in America.
John, if this were true, why did incomes, wages, medium wealth go up so much under Clinton? You've seen all the charts and graphs I share here. As someone who worked for Clinton the idea that his policies were designed to hurt the middle class rather than help them is lol ridiculous. The American middle class and the economy prospered under Clinton.
Yeah I don't know why Clinton pushed those trade policies that squeezed the middle class, but that's what happened. The resulting job losses really took off during the subsequent Bush admin, when millions of good paying manufacturing jobs decamped to China to be replaced by....? Yes the economy was prosperous in the late 90s during Clinton's admin due to the tech stock bubble, which collapsed just after he left office and resulted in a pretty severe recession. Not to mention the financial deregulation that occurred under his watch led to the growth of the housing bubble, which of course burst and brought us the Great Recession. Fortunately, President Biden appears to be moving on from this legacy.