The Shining City on The Hill vs. Reality
President Obama is being praised for referencing Ronald Reagan's 'shining city on the hill' speech at the convention.
Last week Obama said this.
Michael Elliott, the former head of the ONE Campaign, who we remember today — he liked to say that we’re living through an ‘age of miracles.’ And he’s right.
...the world has never been less violent, healthier, better educated, more tolerant, with more opportunity for more people, and more connected than it is today.”
According to Obama, America has never been better.
Democrats and the media have picked up the chant. Negativity is for Republicans.
This is an effective strategy, but only if it reflects reality.
It becomes a problem when people point out stuff like this.
It becomes a problematic issue when the IMF says things like this last month.
While praising the "overall good shape" of the nation's economy, the IMF said in its assessment that "the U.S. faces potentially significant longer-term challenges to strong and sustained growth. Concerted policy actions are warranted, sooner rather than later."
The nation's economic well-being, it said, is threatened by factors including the shrinking middle class—now at "its smallest size in the last 30 years"—as well as "income and wealth distribution [that] are increasingly polarized" and rising poverty. "One in seven Americans is living in poverty," including 40 percent of whom are working, the body added.
Remember poverty? Democrats and the news media once cared about the issue.
Now it's something to pretend not to notice, and seriously people don't bring up in polite company. Or presidential debates.
Of the five Republican debates and of the three Democratic debates, not one moderator has asked a question involving the words “poverty” or “poor.” While the subject has been touched upon by some of the Democratic candidates, namely Bernie Sanders and briefly Jim Webb, the topic has been entirely unmentioned by the moderators during the three Democratic debates.
The problem of declaring that "we stand for things being great" is that it's hard to swallow to people who are struggling.
To them, it makes you look out of touch.
How extensive is the reality of people barely hanging on? How about nearly 2/3rds of households.
According to a brand new survey from Bankrate.com, just 37% of Americans have enough savings to pay for a $500 or $1,000 emergency. The other 63% would have to resort to measures like cutting back spending in other areas (23%), charging to a credit card (15%) or borrowing funds from friends and family (15%) in order to meet the cost of the unexpected event.
In November, Pew Charitable Trusts reported that one in three American families have no savings at all. In December, Magnify Money released the results of a study that found that 56.3% of people have less than $1,000 in their checking and savings accounts combined...
“Five-hundred dollars is enough money that it could be catastrophic if you’re really living on the edge and don’t have enough money” to cover that unplanned cost, Bankrate senior investing analyst Sheyna Steiner said in a phone interview. ”I did wonder what would happen if it was $10,000, what would the answer have been then?”
63% of Americans are one medical emergency away from complete disaster. Huge deductibles means Obamacare won't save them.
That doesn't sound like a shining city on the hill to me.
Comments
Not to worry
Hillary will open up public sector jobs, mostly in the Marine Corps and the Army.
"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."
Thanks for the chuckle.
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
I didn't laugh--it's too true
The Dems are rethugs
Obama's speech was so good even Republicans liked it? TYT analysis 10 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsdWAUr9s7U
Plus the pro war USA...USA...
They lost me.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
More propaganda.
If they say it enough, the sheeple fall into line.They all make me ill.
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
I think the PTB know exactly how close they are...
to Madame Guillotine.
Hence they try to rile up the masses anger against someone OTHER than them.
Wars used to be a good way to do it. However, shockingly people are more and more not buying the media's bullshit cover.
Use the same drug on the masses too often and they will build up an immunity.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
shining cities on hills don't lose wars
When is the last time the news media mentioned Afghanistan?
It's OVER, remember?
We WON that war. Or at least we would have won if the damn peace movement hadn't stabbed us in the...
... wait...
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Dems and Media psyching
themselves up for a War with Russia however.
Orwell: Where's the omelette?
Shades of the propaganda campaign
in the year prior to the invasion of Iraq. The Enemy must be thoroughly demonized before military action is taken. The Mighty Wurlitzer has been pulling out all the stops in declaring Putin the Bad-Guy-Du-Jour. Will Hillary's legions of supporters buy into this narrative, if push comes to shove? My guess is, yes they would.
native
And as usual the rubes are buying the propaganda
And how many times have their fallen for it?
Japan attacked Pearl Harbor but most of the fighting happened in and around Germany.
Babies were being thrown out of incubators so we had to attack Saddam, even though Bush 1 had hinted that he would be okay with Saddam's actions.
Saddam had WMDs and met 'with Al Quada terrorists', so instead of fighting the Taliban, we invaded Iraq. BTW, the people who wrote PNAC went to Clinton to get him to overthrow Saddam. Does anyone think that Hillary wasn't aware of this when she voted for the AUMF which her supporters say she was only voting to give the inspectors more time.
Assad used sarin gas on his people, when it was actually the Syrian rebels that the US was backing that used the gas.
Russia annexed Crimea. Is interfering with our election and some of the elections in Europe, so we will have to go to war with Russia, even though Obama and NATO have been sending troops into 20 countries surrounding Russia a year or two before Russia supposedly hack the DNC and the DCCC servers. But they didn't hack Hillary's private one for some reason. I think her server would interest Russia more than the DNC's don't you?
And the biggest propaganda is that the troops are fighting to keep us safe and to defend our freedoms.
No one can answer how the terrorists can take away our freedoms. Well the ones we still have after congress passed the Patriot act and the NDAA.
Was Humpty Dumpty pushed?
Dog whistle
I suspect that the Dems are using the "Russians are coming!" at least partly as a dog whistle to bring the older voters in line. My generation (Boomers) grew up in the "Red Scare" times and spent the first 40 or so years of life being programmed to see Russia as the boogeyman. So it would be a convenient trigger to use, along with the nationalistic "USA! USA!" chanting, which I first recall hearing during the Iran hostage crisis in 1979.
While the US political establishment's preferred boogeyman has changed since 1989 and now focuses on the Middle East and Islam, that "Russia scary!" trigger no doubt still exists inside Boomer psyches. And it's something familiar to them. I think many of my generation are feeling emotionally and mentally disoriented, especially with the bulk of the Millennials not going along quietly. The old "Russia scary!" may be still in many Boomers' comfort zone, simply because it's familiar to them. A way of clinging to the known, no matter how perverse it may seem.
"Don't go back to sleep ... Don't go back to sleep ... Don't go back to sleep."
~Rumi
"If you want revolution, be it."
~Caitlin Johnstone
From what I am seeing,
they already have.
"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X
Time to invest!
in body bags.
"I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones."
John Cage
Obama, the liar, used to be smooth at it
But now to say America has never been better! He who used to be a "community organizer", allegedly an activist working for the benefit of the poor--can now with a straight face render up this bullshit. Who the fuck is he trying to impress--not the 40% living in poverty who already know he's full of shit? Beside Clintonites and 1%ers, he ain't fooling anyone.
Legacy, legacy, legacy
Book deals
Speaking fees
Honorariums
Obama Global Foundation
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
Saul Alinsky weeps.
Palin ( don't puke!) said it best: "How's that hopey changey thing workin' our for ya'?"
I think of that often and regret to say she was right.
Life is strong. I'm weak, but Life is strong.
Alas, President Obama won't be able to cash in
like the Clintons did. Michelle has already said she won't run for president so the returns from investments in the Obama Foundation won't be as high.
We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.
Shining City on a Hill where only the 1% can afford to live. The
Democratic Party really is gentrified.
"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"
The convention delegates
I did not watch the convention because we cut the cord years ago, but I saw some shots on Lee Camp's Redacted Tonight show when they were doing the roll call. Of course the Clinton delegates were in charge of the votes from each state. The Bernie people had been locked out of their seats and some out of the convention hall.
And what struck me was how the Clinton delegates all looked alike. It did not matter if they were male or female, black or brown or white, young or old. They all looked alike, beautifully dressed to the nines with perfectly coifed hair and makeup for the women. They all looked like very financially successful business types or politicians. It was in stark contrast to the Bernie people who looked like regular people you would see every day on the street or in a store.
Did anyone else notice this?
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Yep. And the convention accommodations were "shining" as well.
As in way too luxurious and expensive for many Bernie delegates. There's a message to the peasants: you're out of your league.
"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"
Didn't watch Dem convention, gg, but
did catch a PBS pundit (David Brooks?) on radio pronouncing as they wound up coverage after HRC's speech that the Democratic party "is now the high income, high educated" party.
Seems to fit with your observation of the visuals.
Only connect. - E.M. Forster
Humana has dropped the ACA
Premiums will increase, and the wheels will generally fall off. National healthcare is what's needed, but our corporate masters won't allow that. Jobs are hard to come by, especially good ones, and our cities are rapidly decaying. Foreign entanglements are at an all-time high.
We could be a shining city on a hill, except for those that keep destroying that vision in favor of enriching themselves.
"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."
Not 'wishing the increases on anyone,'--
but the word has been since early this year that the ACA Health Exchange premiums would go up, considerably. Off-the-charts increases, in some regions. So, if it's going to happen, I hope folks know the scope of their premium increases before the election.
(Of course, when premiums increase for the Exchange, the rest of the industry usually follows suit--including Group Health Plans.)
Mollie
“I believe in the redemptive powers of a dog’s love. It is in recognition of each dog’s potential to lift the human spirit and therefore– to change society for the better, that I fight to make sure every street dog has its day.”
--Stasha Wong, Secretary, Save Our Street Dogs (SOSD)
The SOSD Fantastic Four
Available For Adoption, Save Our Street Dogs, SOSD
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
I think the PTB
will attempt to move heaven and earth to postpone such disclosures until after the election.
"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."
dervish, the good news is that 'open enrollment' for the ACA
Exchanges begins on November 1st this year. One week before the November 8th Presidential Election!
(I could be wrong, but it would seem that the premium increases would have to be made public by that date.)
I think I'll do my part to get the word out about the increases, and the dates of Open Enrollment.
Also, I'll try to see if there is any way that 'O' can actually postpone the rate increases. I don't believe that he can--short of directing HHS to change the dates of the Open Enrollment period.
Here's the link (below) to a piece that I saw a while back.
Obamacare's November surprise
Many consumers will see large rate increases for the first time Nov. 1 — a week before they go to the polls.
Mollie
“I believe in the redemptive powers of a dog’s love. It is in recognition of each dog’s potential to lift the human spirit and therefore– to change society for the better, that I fight to make sure every street dog has its day.”
--Stasha Wong, Secretary, Save Our Street Dogs (SOSD)
The SOSD Fantastic Four
Available For Adoption, Save Our Street Dogs, SOSD
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
"We need more healthy people in the pool" Oops
So much for Preventative Care reducing long run costs ~shrug~, from your link:
Insurance company "facts" I can't argue much, my bold in the selected quotes: The Facts About Rising Health Care Costs
Cut it out! But now for the "preventative care" fail, because I really fell for that spun story. Sorry.
Poor people are sicker, duh. Industry LOVES chronic for it supplies the rentier society splendidly, please proceed.
Covered California Premiums Going up 13.2%
The solution is simple
With a national healthcare system, we'll just shut these bastards down, or relegate them to the supplemental insurance industry. The rest of the developed world has better outcomes, for lower costs than we do, largely because they don't have outfits like this gaslighting them.
"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."
Some parts of it are very shiney indeed.
We've got lots of new yachts, and magnificent new mansions at which to marvel. We've got nice gated communities for prosperous people. Other parts of it are becoming, or remain distinctly seedy.
native
The hill is where the rich people traditionally live
Their sewage rolls down the gullies onto the poor people in their hovels below.
Nice to see you here, old friend! Take off your shoes and make yourself at home.
Please help support caucus99percent!
Cheerful thought
Shit runs down hill, but it floats and we're closer to the drain.
Hi Doc.
So "The Oblongs" cartoons were not fictional? n/t
Thanks Doc,
don't mind if I do. I was wondering where you'd gone off to.
native
Been here a while now, getting into the swing
I couldn't abide the old home anymore. The neighborhood really went downhill.
Please help support caucus99percent!
Yeah, really.
I was like, going... going... gone. This new place shows a lot of promise though.
native
Reagan never had an original idea in his life
He copped this one - or more likely his speechwriter did - from John Winthrop 1630. The only change was adding the word "shining".
Edit: But if you read Winthrop's whole paragraph - oh brother.
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
Shining City on the Hill and Augustine's City of God
are the same and remind us that we must be ready to go to war for the righteous cause of crusade against false religions and false sense of trade. We must defend Christianity and its earthly form of living, much more important than democracy: Capitalism. Therefore, we must prepare ourselves to fight the inquisition against those usurpers, barely a generation of capitalism in their land, formerly evil communists. We must label them "New Capitalists." and beware of any hacking they may do to destroy our sacred way of selecting our leaders. Prepare to fight them, people, so that you will not have impure thoughts about what such hackings have revealed about our inner sanctum of power to those unworthy of such knowledge.
And in news for the CDC
I f you are rich, an athlete or foolhardy and going to the Olympics, upon return to the Home
land, avoid mosquitoes for at least a month.Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
All the "Things Are Great!" talk
makes them look disconnected and out of touch.
How can they feel our pain if they deny our pain?
" “Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” FDR "
Disconnected
You make a critical point. When members of the Democratic establishment make the case that everything's great to people for whom it isn't, it does not go over well. If the middle child graduated from college and moved back into his old bedroom and earns barely enough to make the payments on his student loans in good months consequently causing your food bill to explode, how do you react when you hear that?
I don't know what they're thinking. Plenty of people find that denial of their reality as offensive as Donald Trump's vulgarities.
Throw the bums out!
Demexit, btw, was a success in North Carolina.
https://twitter.com/TwoOneSix216/status/759581148964122624
Life is strong. I'm weak, but Life is strong.
A good article along these lines
"Democrats need to stop insisting that everything is going well"
A few quotes:
Democrats need to stop insisting that everything is going well
Just what the world needed — a “Left” that tells workers,
“Don’t you just love this system? You never had it so good.”
One of the problems with the Republican taunt
that Obama was "elitist" was that we heard it as a dog whistle for "uppity." Eventually, we came to realize that he was indeed elitist.
Life is strong. I'm weak, but Life is strong.
Their use of racism throughout his
campaign and administration was really brilliant as a tactical move. Sure, there was much REAL racism, no doubt about that. But that did help push me to believe in Mr Obama, and I feel we were all outright tricked with that. I've long thought of the TPTB that electing a black man as POTUS ensured the obstruction would not only continue but would also neatly stymie any progressive thing he tried to do - an all he had to do was yell "racism" and I was right there defending him loudly and buying into the idea that he really did try, but "just couldn't get past the racism" and so, Scary Tea Party. And it sure as hell worked out for them, didn't it? I know many out here knew long beforehand that he really IS an elitist but I wasn't yet paying enough attention and fell for that hook, line and sinker.
Only a fool lets someone else tell him who his enemy is. Assata Shakur
Gjohnsit
They don't care about the poor voting or the progressives. They are trolling for Bushies to vote for Hills at this point. They expect Bush's "base" to win the election for her. That and e-voting machines.
"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott
Steven D.
I agree with you about their strategy. But I don't think they grasp the extent to which hearing that things are better than they've ever been could provoke someone poor and/or progressive to actually vote for Trump rather than voting for Stein or staying home.
I think establishment Republicans allying with establishment Democrats on the e-voting machines will put Clinton over the top.
I'm 59 years old and I've lived in poverty or close
for 35 or 40 of those years. I never never made the median income, and neither did my parents. I know that what Americans consider poverty is survivable. This does not in any way absolve Obama or any of the other presidents of the last thirty-six years, or anyone else culpable, but it is nonetheless true. Many, in fact most Americans can significantly improve their lives by redefining and reducing unnecessary consumption - many have done so in the last decade.
On to Biden since 1973
Doesn't change how friggen
Doesn't change how friggen destructive it is to have the rich being so rich they can bribe compliance, nor does it change the fact that they do look down on us.