Depressing to read, but absolutely point on. I've been calling my Republican members of Congress (I live in MO) and explaining how I feel about their not doing anything to stop their harming people by allowing Trump and Musk to run over our rights. You can download the 5Calls app to make this fairly easy. I'm retired and receive Social Security and Medicare so I'm also complaining about how stupid it is to destroy these programs. I'm also going to attend one of the Indivisible Town Halls for my Republican Rep, who's been in office for multiple terms but has never held a Town Hall (Ann Wagner). Neither Josh Hawley or Eric Schmitt hold town halls either. It was supposed to be this past Saturday but the VFW Hall had no power after the MO tornadoes. It's not a lot, but it's something. BTW, I also haven't heard anything from the WH or our Republican representatives about the deaths and destruction these tornadoes caused.
Absolutely right! With all my frustration for Senator Schumer I did not think of the business leaders who have also been silent. Our frustration with Senator Schumer was that those of us who are individuals with day jobs are organizing, protesting, writing letters-to-the-editor and doing whatever is possible to make our voices heard. Why is that our elected officials can’t push the envelope and equally stand up for democracy. However, why is the business community so quiet? We know business hates uncertainty but I guess when it is caused by Trump that’s okay. Let’s face it - it is only democracy on the line. It’s very discouraging.
Here is what else it truly horrifying, resembling Hitler's Germany:
The Department of Justice is coming to Northwester University to supposedly "investigate anti-semitism" on campus. The attorney assigned to this investigation, Leo Terrell, has stated plans to “meet with university leadership, impacted students and staff, local law enforcement and community members as it gathers information about these incidents and considers whether remedial action is warranted.” I have interpreted "remedial action" is meaning deportations of Muslim students. NU has a very diverse population including Muslim and South Asian students. I've read about the deportations of Muslim students at Columbia.
The second reason I am concerned is the NU food service and hospitality workers are on strike for better wages as they are in contract negotiations with Compass Group.. Many of the workers are Hispanic. This would be another instance where ICE arrives.
I am very frightened. Today I will be calling my City Council representative, whose husband is a Professor at Northwestern, and the NU and City Police Departments. The community, including religious leaders, has received training on what to do if ICE shows up.
Winston Churchill points out in his book “The Gathering Storm” how "unwisdom and carelessness" crept into the thinking of key leaders. Thus "The Good Guys" created the conditions by which Nazi Germany came to imperil humanity!
Winston Churchill wrote in his "The Gathering Storm":
"It is my purpose, as one who lived and acted in these days, to show how easily the tragedy of the Second World War could have been prevented;
how the malice of the wicked was reinforced by the weakness of the virtuous;"
"The Virtuous" have been too weak when ALL could have been far stronger. Last April David Miliband called out "A Failure of Humanity". In 2022 UN SecGen Guterres called out the existence of GRIDLOCK. No one acted to "End The Failure" nor remove GRIDLOCK.
Action on either might have been enough to have caused better outcomes for all. Including our nation.
Churchill would acknowledge the following bit of wisdom if alive! Every leader needs to learn of that wisdom & take steps to "prevent Own Goals". By themselves, by others, by other nations! Such must be part of the needed "upgrade of the operating system of humanity" to improve the functioning of humanity & every organization (government, business, philanthropy, etc). The reality we are all experiencing is because:
“Throughout history, 'The Good Guys' have caused far, far, far more harm to human lives and futures than the predations of 'The Bad Guys'. The reason for such a paradoxical reality (which Maya Angelou points out in ‘A Brave and Startling Truth” who wisdom is ignored), is this: 'The Good Guys' failed to use vast power available to them to save lives and futures AND failed to ensure ALL the excellence possible came into being that Reality would allow to exist, the excellence Providence wanted to exist (and whose HELP was ignored), & the excellence the wisdom of wise people and wisdom from history showed how to achieve”.
30 years ago Maya Angelou challenged us all to use vast power as she read "A Brave and Startling Truth" to a UN meeting of world leaders.
Thank you. Horrifying. Even though I’m aware of much of this thanks to a variety of sources, this all-in-one view shows the true breadth of the attack on our country. I’ll keep sending letters to local papers in upstate NY, contacting elected officials and showing up at 50501 demonstrations but my participation in the resistance to the Vietnam war and the war in Iraq had no impact on public policy. That was during a time when we thought the system was functional.
In my opinion, there should have been bipartisan negotiations in the Senate on the spending bill with a filibuster. This would at least show how cruel and unwilling to negotiate the other side has become, either due to cruelty or cowardly fear of revenge from MAGA. I will be writing and mailing letters to both Schumer and my Senator Durbin (the Minority Whip) requesting they step aside. They are simply not up to the moment. We need people like Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar , Chris Murphy, or Elizabeth Warren and others at the the top of Democrats in the Senate Minority Leadership. They are much more energetic, louder and more visible. Here is the link to what Indivisible suggests:
I'm curious: do you have any thoughts on why certain leaders with large platforms and followings are still sitting on the sidelines (ie: former presidents, candidates and reps)? Do you think they are letting the courts take the lead to see if that guardrail will hold first?
Whew. Thank you. You voice my frustration, fear, and disgust. It is horrifying to watch these thugs destroy so much so fast and those in positions of power do little if anything at all. These two paragraphs say it best:
"Of course, none of this compares to the perfidy of the Republican Party. We must never forget the unconscionable and dastardly conduct of Speaker Mike Johnson and the Republicans in the House and Senate – men and women who have abdicated their allegiance to this country and to democracy itself. Their cowardice and complicity in the destruction of this country must never be forgotten or whitewashed. Their betrayal is singular and historic."
"To those who are business leaders, captains of industry, university leaders, and media owners, decide who you will be at this moment. If we fully lose democracy in this country, it will be because the most privileged among us refused to accept the responsibility to speak out, to say “no more,” and to lead. History will not kindly remember those who left it to Americans with considerably less power and protection, to do the hard work of saving this country. Your tax cuts will not be large enough to cover your shame. And we will remember."
Many judges have stepped up - we're all holding our breath to see if they will follow through as needed when he continues to defy court orders. I was encouraged to read Marc Elias' explanation that enforcement is not dependent on the U.S. Marshals who report to Pam Bondi, another amoral authoritarian. Apparently they can appoint others to enforce their orders. Here's hoping.
I am convinced that this nation is ushering in the antichrist. The Democrats have been using a two-tail-headed coin for quite some time; hence, tails, the Democrats are losing. They also have 10 Judas traitors and maybe more. Yes! This is a moment for overturning tables. In times like these, we need a Savior!
Depressing to read, but absolutely point on. I've been calling my Republican members of Congress (I live in MO) and explaining how I feel about their not doing anything to stop their harming people by allowing Trump and Musk to run over our rights. You can download the 5Calls app to make this fairly easy. I'm retired and receive Social Security and Medicare so I'm also complaining about how stupid it is to destroy these programs. I'm also going to attend one of the Indivisible Town Halls for my Republican Rep, who's been in office for multiple terms but has never held a Town Hall (Ann Wagner). Neither Josh Hawley or Eric Schmitt hold town halls either. It was supposed to be this past Saturday but the VFW Hall had no power after the MO tornadoes. It's not a lot, but it's something. BTW, I also haven't heard anything from the WH or our Republican representatives about the deaths and destruction these tornadoes caused.
Absolutely right! With all my frustration for Senator Schumer I did not think of the business leaders who have also been silent. Our frustration with Senator Schumer was that those of us who are individuals with day jobs are organizing, protesting, writing letters-to-the-editor and doing whatever is possible to make our voices heard. Why is that our elected officials can’t push the envelope and equally stand up for democracy. However, why is the business community so quiet? We know business hates uncertainty but I guess when it is caused by Trump that’s okay. Let’s face it - it is only democracy on the line. It’s very discouraging.
Here is what else it truly horrifying, resembling Hitler's Germany:
The Department of Justice is coming to Northwester University to supposedly "investigate anti-semitism" on campus. The attorney assigned to this investigation, Leo Terrell, has stated plans to “meet with university leadership, impacted students and staff, local law enforcement and community members as it gathers information about these incidents and considers whether remedial action is warranted.” I have interpreted "remedial action" is meaning deportations of Muslim students. NU has a very diverse population including Muslim and South Asian students. I've read about the deportations of Muslim students at Columbia.
The second reason I am concerned is the NU food service and hospitality workers are on strike for better wages as they are in contract negotiations with Compass Group.. Many of the workers are Hispanic. This would be another instance where ICE arrives.
I am very frightened. Today I will be calling my City Council representative, whose husband is a Professor at Northwestern, and the NU and City Police Departments. The community, including religious leaders, has received training on what to do if ICE shows up.
https://dailynorthwestern.com/2025/02/28/campus/federal-task-force-to-combat-antisemitism-to-visit-northwestern-9-other-schools/
Winston Churchill points out in his book “The Gathering Storm” how "unwisdom and carelessness" crept into the thinking of key leaders. Thus "The Good Guys" created the conditions by which Nazi Germany came to imperil humanity!
Winston Churchill wrote in his "The Gathering Storm":
"It is my purpose, as one who lived and acted in these days, to show how easily the tragedy of the Second World War could have been prevented;
how the malice of the wicked was reinforced by the weakness of the virtuous;"
"The Virtuous" have been too weak when ALL could have been far stronger. Last April David Miliband called out "A Failure of Humanity". In 2022 UN SecGen Guterres called out the existence of GRIDLOCK. No one acted to "End The Failure" nor remove GRIDLOCK.
Action on either might have been enough to have caused better outcomes for all. Including our nation.
Churchill would acknowledge the following bit of wisdom if alive! Every leader needs to learn of that wisdom & take steps to "prevent Own Goals". By themselves, by others, by other nations! Such must be part of the needed "upgrade of the operating system of humanity" to improve the functioning of humanity & every organization (government, business, philanthropy, etc). The reality we are all experiencing is because:
“Throughout history, 'The Good Guys' have caused far, far, far more harm to human lives and futures than the predations of 'The Bad Guys'. The reason for such a paradoxical reality (which Maya Angelou points out in ‘A Brave and Startling Truth” who wisdom is ignored), is this: 'The Good Guys' failed to use vast power available to them to save lives and futures AND failed to ensure ALL the excellence possible came into being that Reality would allow to exist, the excellence Providence wanted to exist (and whose HELP was ignored), & the excellence the wisdom of wise people and wisdom from history showed how to achieve”.
30 years ago Maya Angelou challenged us all to use vast power as she read "A Brave and Startling Truth" to a UN meeting of world leaders.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjEfq7wLm7M
No one accepted her challenge. Vast power went unused as her wisdom was ignored and so could not "upgrade the operating wisdom of humanity”.
Thus the situation we have today.
As that power continues to go unused.
Do you have any idea how the Chairmen of the Ford Motor Company and General Motors feel about Trump selling Teslas at the White House?
Amen! Please do not give up! In solidarity from Canada. 🇨🇦
Thank you for this resounding call to action!
Thank you. Horrifying. Even though I’m aware of much of this thanks to a variety of sources, this all-in-one view shows the true breadth of the attack on our country. I’ll keep sending letters to local papers in upstate NY, contacting elected officials and showing up at 50501 demonstrations but my participation in the resistance to the Vietnam war and the war in Iraq had no impact on public policy. That was during a time when we thought the system was functional.
In my opinion, there should have been bipartisan negotiations in the Senate on the spending bill with a filibuster. This would at least show how cruel and unwilling to negotiate the other side has become, either due to cruelty or cowardly fear of revenge from MAGA. I will be writing and mailing letters to both Schumer and my Senator Durbin (the Minority Whip) requesting they step aside. They are simply not up to the moment. We need people like Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar , Chris Murphy, or Elizabeth Warren and others at the the top of Democrats in the Senate Minority Leadership. They are much more energetic, louder and more visible. Here is the link to what Indivisible suggests:
https://indivisible.org/statements/indivisible-calls-schumer-step-aside?fbclid=IwY2xjawJDHwhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHYFRnbc-lDzG2Fx9oJiR5FwGlaDzg1S3EpXshh8T6hZKPhT436WrNXdisw_aem_y08JXNMgoRcvIKKoeKeMkg
I'm curious: do you have any thoughts on why certain leaders with large platforms and followings are still sitting on the sidelines (ie: former presidents, candidates and reps)? Do you think they are letting the courts take the lead to see if that guardrail will hold first?
Whew. Thank you. You voice my frustration, fear, and disgust. It is horrifying to watch these thugs destroy so much so fast and those in positions of power do little if anything at all. These two paragraphs say it best:
"Of course, none of this compares to the perfidy of the Republican Party. We must never forget the unconscionable and dastardly conduct of Speaker Mike Johnson and the Republicans in the House and Senate – men and women who have abdicated their allegiance to this country and to democracy itself. Their cowardice and complicity in the destruction of this country must never be forgotten or whitewashed. Their betrayal is singular and historic."
"To those who are business leaders, captains of industry, university leaders, and media owners, decide who you will be at this moment. If we fully lose democracy in this country, it will be because the most privileged among us refused to accept the responsibility to speak out, to say “no more,” and to lead. History will not kindly remember those who left it to Americans with considerably less power and protection, to do the hard work of saving this country. Your tax cuts will not be large enough to cover your shame. And we will remember."
Many judges have stepped up - we're all holding our breath to see if they will follow through as needed when he continues to defy court orders. I was encouraged to read Marc Elias' explanation that enforcement is not dependent on the U.S. Marshals who report to Pam Bondi, another amoral authoritarian. Apparently they can appoint others to enforce their orders. Here's hoping.
I am convinced that this nation is ushering in the antichrist. The Democrats have been using a two-tail-headed coin for quite some time; hence, tails, the Democrats are losing. They also have 10 Judas traitors and maybe more. Yes! This is a moment for overturning tables. In times like these, we need a Savior!
argh.....well, all we can do is fight back in all the resistance methods we know...do. not. stop.