Too little too late? They’re establishing a power structure that will not be easily rescinded — certainly not by a quaint democratic relic such voting.
I have never felt more connected to my fellow citizens than listening to town hall coverage. The average American knows what’s what, once they decipher the lies.
I like that sentiment, but I feel that being re-elected is a hobby option. If they are defeated, they and their family will join some lobbying group, or some corporate board, etc. etc. They will never lose a lunch. I want to find some way to make them lose a lunch.
Good for him. As a native Utahn, it’s always been so frustrating that we continually give one party complete control over us. They aren’t afraid of you because there are never any consequences.
There was a paper 10 years ago that said legislation only passes in the US when it abides by the preferences of the mega donors. Regular people only get anything when those interests align. It was dismissed and impugned at the time. Now, its truth has been unveiled wholly. And everyone is angry.
So long as Congressional reps also believe there will be future elections (and I think they do, otherwise they wouldn't have town halls and fundraising, and the WH doesn't include them in the inner circle because they are lowly subjects, not beneficiaries), fear of being ousted is still a motivator.
1. Seemingly futile acts of opposition can grow into movements that change history.
2. A record of opposition is what enables historians to write about a past where nothing was inevitable, different outcomes were imagined, the future was contested.
I keep thinking of this Howard Zinn essay, and especially "We don’t have to engage in grand, heroic actions to participate in the process of change. Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world."
Notice Rep. Maloy opened the meeting by name-calling, gaslighting, agitating the crowd. She said, they were advised not to hold these meetings because the crowds are getting rowdy.
Do you see the narrative? There's something wrong with the people, they're being rowdy.
Not help (1/2)
2/2: the people, they're being robbed, what can we do to serve you. No. It's your behavior isn't acceptable, so we're going to blame you and gaslight you and ignore you.
Wait what struck you? That the last part of the last sentence is actually incoherent? I mean that's the whole problem, that people are incapable of communicating in a clear, understandable way
I know what these people mean when they yell at republican congress people to "do their jobs" but technically they ARE doing their jobs, which currently is to sit back and let trump and musk do whatever they want and obstruct any attempts to curb them.
I think about this and white men a lot. It doesn't take grand gestures to make a difference. Rather, just simply saying "something doesn't seem right" aloud would make a massive difference.
The Republicans who do show up to town halls are just gaslighting bitches.
"Boo hoo don't yell at me."
Then they continue to just lie, dismantle the country and our wellbeing, and dismiss people's concerns and tell them how 'unruly' they are for raising their voices in anger.
This is the position of my Representative (Mark Amodei R-NV) on town halls:
“There's stuff we agree with, there's stuff we don't agree with, but I don't need to be screamed at by a bunch of people who are just pissed because I got elected."
I haven’t seen a single instance of any Republican meaningfully change or pivot on any issue after these raucous town halls. It’s as if they know Trump will end elections. Just a thought!
Comments
Ranked Choice Voting.
It's the solution and it can be introduced by citizens before election day 2025 if you get your asses moving.
It makes it so no seat is safe and representation improves.
Then we can start getting all the corrupt a-holes out of government.
It's a good system but it doesn't solve anything.
It eliminates safe seats and "the lesser of two weevils"
RCV leads to better representation of the public interest. Interesting the public is a different kettle of fishists.
maybe..or maybe not
1. Seemingly futile acts of opposition can grow into movements that change history.
2. A record of opposition is what enables historians to write about a past where nothing was inevitable, different outcomes were imagined, the future was contested.
https://www.howardzinn.org/collection/the-optimism-of-uncertainty/
Isn't there some oath Americans love to quote about protecting the country from "all enemies, foreign and domestic"?
The oath is to protect the Constitution.
Cultists!
Do you see the narrative? There's something wrong with the people, they're being rowdy.
Not help (1/2)
"Boo hoo don't yell at me."
Then they continue to just lie, dismantle the country and our wellbeing, and dismiss people's concerns and tell them how 'unruly' they are for raising their voices in anger.
“There's stuff we agree with, there's stuff we don't agree with, but I don't need to be screamed at by a bunch of people who are just pissed because I got elected."
That's constituent service.