bruce-ter.bsky.social
284 posts
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Getting Started
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Progressive populism
Progressive tax
Expand public & communal ownership
Free public education thru college
Worker & consumer protections
Living wage
Social Security, other social programs, safety nets
Universal healthcare, pre-school, childcare, eldercare
Universal basic income
Inheritance for all
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How does a 50% tariff on the EU:
Lower the price of eggs and groceries?
Make housing more affordable?
Reduce inflation and the overall cost of living?
The president promised to do those things starting on day one.
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Republicans promote an economy of extraction. They systematically take wealth and resources from the many to benefit the rich.
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Victor Wembanyama was asked during his rookie season what he had learned about the NBA. He said, 'The biggest thing I've learned, is a 20-point lead is nothing.'
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Richard Wirthlin discovered:
1. People vote their values and not necessarily in their financial or self-interest.
2. They vote for the candidate they identify with.
A candidate is wise to talk about values, relate those values to their policies, & connect with people on an emotional level.
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The Suspect from Berlin by Lyle Nicholson
Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck
A Lonely Man by Chris Power
All Russians Love Birch Trees by Olga Grjasnowa
Visitation by Jenny Erpenbeck
Berlin Alexanderplatz by Alfred Döblin
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Malignant narcissism is a dangerous personality type with four key traits (Otto Kernberg):
Paranoia
Narcissism
Psychopathy
Sadism
People with this disorder have an unconscious desire to destroy, lack empathy, are vengeful, and are remorseless.
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Professor Emeritus Michael Nagler has also written and taught extensively about nonviolent movements and their historical roots, arguing that nonviolence is a powerful and active force for social change.
Here's a link to his Metta Center for Nonviolence website: www.mettacenter.org
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The Republican five pronged approach to governing:
1. Privatize education and nearly everything else
2. Massive tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations
3. Remove protections (deregulation
4. Gut social programs
5. Impose austerity on all but the wealthy
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The economy is a dumpster fire. Tariffs are setting grocery and housing prices ablaze.
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How do tariffs:
Lower the prices of eggs and groceries?
Make housing more affordable?
Reduce inflation and the overall cost of living?
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Republican opposition to taxes is rooted in Adam Smith's idea that every person & business should strive to maximize their own profit. Through the magical “invisible hand” of the market, this pursuit will benefit everyone.
They believe taxes interfere with the market by taking profits away.
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Efficiency is not a democratic value.
Efficiency is efficient for those in power—but not those under their control.
Efficiency is a cover for privatization, the removal of protections (deregulation), the erosion of rights and freedoms, and the concentration of wealth.
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Malignant narcissists have an unconscious desire to destroy, which plays out in nearly every aspect of life including politics.
Malignant Narcissism is a personality type with four key traits according to Otto Kernberg:
Paranoia
Narcissism
Antisocial behavior
Sadism
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So much losing
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Republicans have messaging & framing experts (like Frank Luntz) who understand that people think in frames, reason with emotion, and make sense of the world through stories and values. They have think tanks shaping language & media networks & a massive communications system spreading these frames.
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bsky.app/profile/phls...
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Chesterton's Fence is a wise principle. BTW - Gilbert Keith Chesterton created the "Father Brown" character.
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"No person shall be…deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;…"
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Breaking the authoritarian grip will take a highly organized, strategic, nonviolent, and broad coalition.
Indivisible, People’s Union USA, law firms, universities, other groups, & politicians must unite, strategize, make detailed plans, communicate 24/7, engage the public and keep pushing.
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Breaking the Republican Party’s authoritarian grip on government will require a highly organized, strategic, nonviolent, and sustained movement.
Indivisible, People’s Union USA, law firms, universities, and others need to unite, strategize, and persevere.
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Sadly, millions will believe it.
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Firing Powell would likely trigger economic instability: inflation could rise, investor confidence might drop, interest rates could fluctuate, and the dollar would weaken.
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Brooks and Kristol are not running for office.
Newsom is falling into the trap of moving to the right. Such a shift alienates the progressive base and helps the Republican opponent by activating and reinforcing the conservative worldview in people’s brains.
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Elote. It's grilled corn on the cob. It was traditionally sold by street vendors.
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Thank you! Your courage and commitment to democracy mean more than words can say.
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Thank you, Senator Van Hollen. What you’ve done—and seeing the photo of the two of you—moved me to tears and filled my heart with hope.
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Thank you, Senator Van Hollen. What you’ve done—and seeing the photo of the two of you—brings tears to my eyes and hope to my heart.
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Thank you, Senator Van Hollen. What you’ve done—and seeing the photo of the two of you—brings tears to my eyes and hope to my heart.
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The world they want to create - George Lakoff
God above Humans
Humans above Nature
Strong above Weak
Rich above Poor
Employers above Workers
Adults above Children
West above Other Cultures
U.S. above all countries
Men above Women
Whites above Nonwhites
Christians above Others
Straights above LGBTQ
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It starts with empathy for the repressed — and with the courage, strength, and responsibility to act on that empathy.
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This is the Republican “starve the beast” strategy.
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Efficiency is not a democratic value. Efficiency is efficient for those in control, not the rest of us who live under their management.
The push for “efficiency” is a cover for privatization, deregulation, cronyism, and wealth concentration.
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I suppose Mr. Stewart will make a similar comment when martial law is declared and future elections are either rigged or not held.
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We are locked in a constitutional crisis. Is this the end of the rule of law?
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We are locked in a constitutional crisis. Is this the end of the rule of law?
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A poem and a song come to mind:
"The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers."
— William Wordsworth
And from the song:
"Lookin' for love in all the wrong places..."
We’re lookin’ for love — and meaning — in all the wrong ways.
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The slide into authoritarianism is so sad and tragic.
Some people in the U.S. are worried about having their phones searched and getting back into the country after traveling abroad.
Professors Timothy Snyder, Marci Shore, and Jason Stanley are leaving Yale to teach at the University of Toronto.
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Efficiency is not a Democratic value. Efficiency is efficient for those in control, not the rest of us who live under their rule.
The push for “efficiency” is a cover for a raw power grab, privatization, deregulation, the erosion of rights and freedoms, destruction, and wealth concentration.
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What exactly are the oligarchs and tariffs doing to help ordinary people?
Are they lowering the price of eggs, groceries, or other essentials?
Making housing more affordable?
Reducing the overall cost of living?
Helping Americans save for retirement?
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Efficiency is not a democratic value. Efficiency is efficient for those in control, not the rest of us who live under their management.
The push for “efficiency” is a cover for privatization, removal of protections (deregulation), and wealth concentration.
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Cass was in over his head. He thinks in terms of direct causation: simple fixes for complex problems.
Immigration? Build a wall.
Reorder global trade? Slap on tariffs.
He ignores systemic causation.
But as they say, “For every complex problem, there is a simple, easy-to-understand wrong answer.
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Efficiency is not a democratic value. Efficiency is efficient for those in control, not the rest of us who live under their management.
The push for “efficiency” is a cover for privatization, deregulation, and wealth concentration.