A few brief remarks

Hello there. I recently read some of the meta about what's been going on. One thing that caught my attention was the lamented absence of Hecate, Phoebe Loosinhouse, Dallasdoc and others people miss. I can't speak for them. No one person's reasons for writing or not writing on a blog are the same, even one with as generous a community as this one. But I can talk a little about the reasons for my own infrequent appearances here of late as compared to past years.

First let me tell things that have nothing to do with why I am not writing here as often.

I'm not upset with the community. Far from it. This is one of the most diverse communities of its kind on the internet in terms of opinions, ideology, interests, etc., but also one of the most civil and respectful. Is c99 perfect in this regard? No, but it approaches my ideal community better than any other.

I'm not upset at any of the writers here or the essays I find posted when I drop by. This place has a surfeit of good writers and thought provoking essays. I learn so much from the people here, including, and especially, from those who tend to post mostly in the comments. The conversations are usually a delight and often insightful, even if, at times, as all communities do, we see instances of conflict or combativeness. From my point of view, conflict is impossible to avoid. It comes with being human beings. We are a social species that relies heavily on our ability to communicate. The written word, for all it's power, can be misinterpreted and misunderstood very easily, because of the lack of social cues that we, as humans, rely upon, to understand the intentions of others. It's a problem as old as recorded history, and certainly as old as the first forum established online

So, that aside, why have I been posting less.

1) My health. I'm getting older. My autoimmune disorder has become more temperamental, shall we say. My ability to think clearly and focus well enough to consistently write well-documented and thoughtful material is limited far more than in the past.

2) My family situation. My wife is struggling at present, thanks largely to Medicare having changed its formulary, particularly with respect to certain medications she needs to maximize her cognitive function. For a Type 1 diabetic that has played havoc with her ability to monitor that disease, and added stress for all members of her support network, including me.

My daughter living at home has also added to the time I have to spend offline. She's going through a difficult stage of life right now. Her long term significant other is deployed overseas (he's a member of a National Guard unit he joined to pay for his education). Her job requires her to fly all over the country. She's often alone, and does not do well with solitude. So I try to be as available to her as I can. And my son is also trying to sort out his life, and determine what he should do to get out of his dead end low paying job, which is the best he could find despite his degree.

3) My personal writing. Some of you know that for the last 5-6 years I have been working on several novels in addition to my political blogging. I finally have one that looks like it may have a chance for publication, but it still needs a lot of work, and I'm working with a writing coach to fine tune the manuscript before seeking an agent and/or publisher. In the past, I had the energy to devote to both online blogging and my other writing, but that is no longer the case.

4) I'm burned out on politics. This really shouldn't shock anyone. Like many of you, I expended a great deal of energy and time in covering the 2016 election, the most significant election year in my life, at least from the standpoint of how much I invested myself in covering the campaign, reporting stories, and playing a role as an activist. The aftermath of that year, the continuing repression of voices on the left, the internecine conflict between the Third Way Democrats and progressives (both in and out of the Democratic party) has been disheartening, to say the least.

In addition, there are many other matters that have caused me dismay. The slow moving crisis triggered by Trump's election, the deep state backlash to it, the increasing control of the two major parties at every level by the rich and powerful, the extension of censorship into the social media arena, the forever wars being fought across the globe by our American empire, and the utter failure of our purported leaders to address the needs of the, for lack of a better word, commonwealth. Add to that all of the contingent realities that have popped up, all with competing narratives, their own facts, and their intransigent and opposing stances towards one another leading to divisiveness and paralysis, which serves the purposes of the oligarchs. All these issues have created in me a sense of helplessness and hopelessness, a depression of mood and a growing pessimism after the brief high I experienced (as many others did as well), which was ignited initially by Bernie Sanders' candidacy two years ago.

In short, I see American society collapsing at an ever faster rate, and I personally do not have an answer to the crisis that has had a stranglehold over our country for at least 30 years, but which became so very apparent, and so blatantly exposed, during and after that critical year of 2016. The signs may have been there for a long time, but for many of us, recognition of the intractability of our situation became apparent too late. Late enough that I fear there is not much anyone can do to change our trajectory. The latest examples of this crisis are too numerous to mention, but let me just toss out a few that are emblematic of our times: Puerto Rico, Russiagate, Syria, Gofundme as our default healthcare option, Rigged Primaries (again), Jeff Bezos and Amazon, the ramping up of propaganda by our corporate media.

It's easy to point out the flaws in our current reality, but much harder to find viable solutions. I came to the point where I no longer was satisfied merely sounding the alarm, when I lacked the ability to propose any alternative that I had any faith would work to right matters. This, more than anything else, has led to me writing less and less long-form essays about the current state of America. I still dabble in short form social media such as twitter, but I lack the conviction to do much more than that. And I don't want to give less than my best anymore.

Fortunately, this site does not depend on me or any one particular writer to remain meaningful, though I would be remiss if I did not mention the huge impact that gjohnsit's essays provide the c99 community, and the importance of seeing his work here almost every day. I wish I could meet his high standard, but I cannot, and besides there are others here, people with points of view that, even if we collectively do not always agree with them, provide a spur to engage in debate or prompt us to action: Big Al, Alligator Ed, Arendt, Cassiodorus, detroitmechworks, EdMass, Can't Stop the Macedonian Signal, Mark From Queens, Linda Wood, Wendy Davis, Amanda Matthews, Aspie, enhydra lutris, Joe (of course), et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

There will always be a certain amount of turnover among the more frequent posters at any community blog such as c99, whether from death (as we have experienced here of late), or other reasons, many of which are personal to the individual and have little to do with the community as a whole. But I'm grateful that as c99 has matured, I have seen a number of voices rise up to replace those no longer here, or here less often. At least that's my glass half full analysis of c99 at present. This is still a vibrant and valuable community and online resource for many, many people. Enjoy it however long it lasts.

Take care,

Steve

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detroitmechworks's picture

People drift away from hobbies as interest waxes and wanes.

I recently started posting on a site I haven't been to in 15 years. They still remember me and my work. (No, not TOP)

I find that as I write more and more about what I WANT to write about, rather than what I feel I have to write about, my quality improves exponentially.

Yes, I may fall away again, but that's just a part of my life. I have to stop thinking of these times as a failure and instead as a low ebb in my life.

Sorry to jump in with my own rant, but I appreciate the hell out of this post.

Thank you.

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Steven D's picture

@detroitmechworks Feeling passionate about whatever you do is important. And I will continue to say I'm enjoying your post-American Empire essays a whole helluva lot.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

detroitmechworks's picture

@Steven D from a joke that one of my friends did about 20 years ago. "What if the future's television shows got our time as wrong as our shows get the past?" Which resulted in a strange Mad Max esque mashup called "Diana, Warrior Princess"

I liked the idea, but not the conclusion, so it is my take on that future, where America is spoken of, but often portrayed in stories wrong.

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Certainly you speak for me in many respects. As I read this, I kept thinking that I could have written this almost word for word. Anyway, well done. Thanks for saving me the trouble. Excellent writing as always. All the best.

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Steven D's picture

@OPOL You'll always be one of my heroes from 2016, fighting the good fight over at TOP with such good cheer and such passion.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

WaterLily's picture

@Steven D Steven, thank you for this. I've missed you, too. And your essay is a good reminder that we're all dealing with lots of things offline that aren't immediately apparent to others: something we each should keep in mind during our interactions.

And OPOL -- always good to "see" you. You were among my primary inspirations at TOP, and it makes me happy to know you lurk here, even if you don't post often anymore. Solidarity.

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Raggedy Ann's picture

Reading it, I heard myself. I comment less due to time constraints, political burn-out, etc. I've missed your writing, while I, too, miss Hectate, Phoebe, and DD. I think of them often and wonder...

I enjoy this site enough to monetarily support it as best I can, as well as contributing to the discussion as long as I feel what I have to say is relevant to the conversation.

There will always be a certain amount of turnover among the more frequent posters at any community blog such as c99, whether from death (as we have experienced here of late), or other reasons, many of which are personal to the individual and have little to do with the community as a whole. But I'm grateful that as c99 has matured, I have seen a number of voices rise up to replace those no longer here, or here less often. At least that's my glass half full analysis of c99 at present. This is still a vibrant and valuable community and online resource for many, many people. Enjoy it however long it lasts.

Thanks Steven. Pleasantry

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"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

Steven D's picture

@Raggedy Ann I will support this site monetarily as long as possible, and hopefully still make other contributions when I can. I really respect the hell out of the people here.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

. . . one that ultimately saps one's hopes and energies, as the result of being focused on things they cannot change.

That is why I don't think the ultimate answers are to be found in the political realm, but rather in a spirituality that allows one to live with serenity in the face of intractable injustice

There is something called the "Serenity Prayer": "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

That's a good place to start.

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divineorder's picture

@SoylentGreenisPeople Yes, my mother shared the Serenity Prayer with is after my father died, her 5 kids had all left home, and she was drinking and drugging herself to death (prescription valium given to women for menopause back then).

My wife jakkalbessie and are not religios, but we do choose to be spiritual, and that, thus far, has ptoven to be our 'salvation.'

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A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.

Anja Geitz's picture

How wonderful for you that you've been moving ahead with your dream. What is your story about? If you don't mind my asking?

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Steven D's picture

@Anja Geitz Romance, mystery, fantasy, psychological thriller, literary (bildungsroman).

And it involves Jorge Luis Borges. Beyond that saying any more would reveal too much.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Anja Geitz's picture

@Steven D

To read it! Smile

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

enhydra lutris's picture

Sorry about the woes and and aggravations facing you and best of luck dealing with them. Best of luck, too, with the book and the others to follow.

The phrases "fin de siecle" and "hell in a handbag" come to mind, though I prefer the first since it contained an element of hope. Both do, however, contain a gloss of "the hell with it, let'sd party" that is seriously tempting especially as age and infirmities take their toll. All the same:

Avanti popolo!

Have a good one, and thanks again.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Steven D's picture

@enhydra lutris I've spent a lot of time hearing about my friends problems navigating our horrid healthcare system, of which far too many are victims. Riverlover's death hit me hard as well, since I spoke to here on a semi-regular basis, but missed my one chance to meet her.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

earthling1's picture

It needed to be said.
I know it made you feel better saying it. It made me feel better reading it, the despondency feels mutual.
I commented here a few days ago and noted:
"We all know the Empire is near collapse. The dollar is about to fail. And major changes are going to happen to each and everyone of us. And no one has any idea how to prepare for it".
Prepping only goes as far as your starving neighbors. Trying to run is futile.
The only hope I see is in the third world "shitholes" our military has been trying so desperately to defeat, and failing. Countries that have been sanctioned and blockaded. Bombed and gassed. Infrastructure destroyed. Hospitals leveled. Millions of people killed.
And still, not defeated.
I so hope this is not our future. But I know, when deprived of everything, when we've nothing left to lose, is when we, as a people, will become the most dangerous to those that seek to kill us.
I may well have passed on before it happens.
But I know already how it will end.
History repeats itself. Empires will fall.
Thanks for a great essay and please keep posting.

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Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

Steven D's picture

@earthling1 When I feel I have something to say, I do post, it's just that the need to do so is less frequent and I have less time and energy to devote to politics. I am grateful for those who do. And like you, I do fear for the future we are creating for our children and future generations (and possibly you and I as well).

Take care.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Wink's picture

never have, and would
@earthling1
never have, except for the Ayn Randian greedsters and Dimocratic party that fell in line.
'tis criminal what has happened and what is happening, yet people carry on as if nothing has happened, life is grand at $65 K per year, what is everyone whining about?!
Sadly, they'll soon find out.

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the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.

The water is rising on the sinking ship but the establishment continues to plow ahead.

For most of our lives we looked forward for the future. Progress was underway

A couple of decades ago I realized the fraud in the hope of progress, well sorta realized, but could not have imagined the world wide effect when the hope for the future was a sham, the establishment hope for the future.

Now that progress of globalization is impossible we are faced with a return to the earth but don't know what that means.

Something different I have done in the last month is to read fiction. I am focusing on Richard Powers who writes heady stuff including his latest novel with trees as major characters in The Overstory.

Here is a review by a young philosopher on an art exhibit at the LA Architecture school Sci-Arc

Somewhere, in a passage I can no longer locate, the British novelist J.G. Ballard (1930-2009) makes a statement about the arts that has haunted me since I read it a quarter-century ago. The role of the artist has reversed, Ballard tells us. Formerly, the artist’s mission was to produce fictions. But now our collective life is saturated with fictions: films, comic books, advertisements, theme parks, videogames, alternate online identities. As a result, the task of the artist has become the production of a reality able to provide some backbone to what is otherwise an unending stream of fictions. In the era of supposed “fake news,” in which even the President of the United States can hardly open his mouth without emitting a barrage of half-truths and outright lies, the problem of constructing reality in an environment of fabrications feels even more urgent than in the decades J.G. Ballard lived to see.

The theme of how fiction intersects with reality is one that could not be avoided when visiting the Ruy Klein show in the SCI-Arc Gallery under the title “Apophenia,” which ran from November 17-December 17, 2017. The designers David Ruy and Karel Klein are both familiar faces at SCI-Arc, where David serves as Postgraduate Programs Chair (and, moreover, bears the sole responsibility for having dragged the author of this review slowly into the architectural world). Having been a regular visitor to the Ruy Klein website in recent years, I thought I knew what to expect when their show opened at SCI-Arc in mid-November, and thus I accepted David’s invitation of a walk-through without thinking his guidance would really be necessary. But in fact, the exhibition was quite startling, departing as it did from trends I thought I had recognized in Ruy Klein’s previous work.

Apophenia: The Ruy Klein Cartographies

I find the "fictions" in Richard Power's work provide insights on times which could be a prelude to the end of humanity.

I also post much less these days.

But I do occasionally go to TOP just to see how the democratic party continues to try to hold onto power.

We have seen this for decades that labor unions have sold out their principles to keep a seat at the table, now the dem party is obviously going down the same path.

I would be interested in an update of the people mentioned in Steven's list

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Steven D's picture

@DonMidwest Thanks.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

@Steven D This one is from Margret Atwood.

In the Heart of the Heartland

So if he’s so good, why isn’t he better known? .... He’s got a Vulcan mind-meld on the critics, all right, but could it be that he’s just not cozy enough at the core—that he’s too challenging, or daunting, or—dread word—too bleak?

If Powers were an American writer of the nineteenth century, which writer would he be? He’d probably be the Herman Melville of Moby-Dick. His picture is that big. Moby-Dick sank like a stone when it first came out: it had to wait almost a century before its true importance was recognized. Given Powers’s previous interest in devices like time capsules, I’d hazard that he has the long view in mind: open him up in a hundred years, and there, laid out before you in novel after novel, will be the preoccupations and obsessions and speech patterns and jokes and gruesome mistakes and eating habits and illusions and stupidities and loves and hates and guilts of his own time. All novels are time capsules, but Powers’s novels are larger and more inclusive time capsules than most.

I doubt that Richard Powers will have to wait a hundred years, however. American literature students will be into him with their picks and shovels before long. He’s the stuff of a thousand Ph.D. theses, or I’ll be the Wizard of Oz.

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The futility of our politics has come home to me in a big way too.

I appreciate all of the time and work so many put into this place. I do come here at least once every day. Usually a lot more. I don't comment much either because I don't feel as if I have anything of value to say.

Like you Steven, age is taking a toll on my writing too. Age plus years of grant writing telling the grantor what they want to hear in the words they want to hear it and form design targeted to assuring maximum protection from liability have all contributed to the erosion of my writing skills. It was never my strongest suit, but it was never as bad as it is now. Grammar, spelling, typos, run on sentences - bah! I can't express enough how grateful I am to this community for being so gracious about it.

Always happy to see you Steven. Wishing you and yours the best.

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

Steven D's picture

@dkmich I appreciate all you've done over the years to help keep this place going. You certainly deserve a respite, though, life doesn't seem likely to be providing any of us much of one.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

I always read your stuff with interest,this post no exception.
Hope things improve for you and your family.

I remember your kind words when I had some problems here back in December.
It meant a lot to me at the time, and still does today.

thanks again.

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@irishking

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Steven D's picture

@irishking Means a lot to me.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

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mimi's picture

reading, was gone for a long time and then comes back and unpacks all that was going on with his his personal life and his thoughts about the political life surrounding us.

Thanks Steven D for having had the strength to write this all up for us. I am so glad you are still around and visit us and talk to us. May your health be with you and may your spirit keep you going.

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Steven D's picture

@mimi Looking forward someday to our next non online conversation. Smile

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Lookout's picture

That has to be the priority.

As a teacher every year you let those who you poured your heart into go on to their future. I always saw it as blowing dandelion seeds. People who now carry a part of you with them.

The same is true of writing. Thanks for your words and efforts that are now a part of me. I'll never forget the revelation which you showed me...that any of us could be investigative journalist...when you called and reported on the hillbot infiltrator into the NC Sanders camp. The light came on - do your homework and report. I've always appreciated your honesty and forthright approach as you shared yourself with the c99 community.

So I miss you, OPOL, hecate, and others who have touched us, but the world calls us in various ways to all sorts of tasks. All the best to you in your efforts. Come by and say hello when you can.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Steven D's picture

@Lookout Luckily we have a lot of good people here.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

karl pearson's picture

I have enjoyed reading your essays for years. First, at Booman Tribune and then here at Caucus99%. Am glad you are engaging in some other activities, but still dropping by periodically to update us on your thoughts. Any "thinking" person would reassess their life and world after the 2016 primary/election and the current state of politics. Please continue to stop by when you get a chance. Regards to your family.

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I'm now a fellow self-exile from Booman Tribune as there is no community there any more, just a handful of old-timers and three or four hilbots turning it into DKOS. Booman himself is fixated on Russia! Russia! and impeaching Trump to the exclusion of everything else.

Regarding your points 3) and 4): I well understand being burned out on politics. Only the IL Gov race holds any interest to me. Pritzker sounds good, but I've been burned before. Still, Rauner is almost a cartoon caricature of a Wall street republican that I feel I must oppose him.

And PLEASE post here when the book is published. I promise to buy it.

EDIT: Not sure if those hilbots are not his own sock puppets. He does nothing to rein them in.

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I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

Steven D's picture

@The Voice In the Wilderness @karl pearson Good to see you over here. Sorry that BT is no longer as welcoming to non-establishment points of view. I have not been back there in a very long time.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

joe shikspack's picture

i'm glad to hear that you are pursuing some projects and continuing to keep the juggling balls in the air.

there's a lot of burnout and despair going around, but at c99 we have each other. we don't all agree on how things can be fixed, but we do generally agree on what a better world might look like and that's a good start. i'm grateful to have met you and a number of folks who post here, we're a good group of folks and it's great to have good company as we stumble through things.

wishing you and the family the best and i hope that you'll check in frequently, even if it's just to say hi.

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Steven D's picture

@joe shikspack Yeah it does seem to be going from worse to far worse very rapidly. I appreciate those with more energy and optimism than I fighting the good fight, whether in or outside the Democratic party, excuse me - nonprofit (i.e., for profit) corporation lol.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Mark from Queens's picture

So much of what you wrote resonates. It really speaks for many today I feel.

Personal stories such as yours are a powerful document in helping to bridge divides, recognize commonality and then start coalescing the vast majority into a coalition against the ruling class protecting their status quo of pillage and corruption which is responsible for our worldwide predicament.

Ever see the WeAreThe99Percent tumblr page? Another brilliant creation by Occupy-inspired folks. Just scores of regular folks, writing on a single page held up for the camera next to their face, explaining their personal tribulations caused by the Economic Terrorism of Wall St and corrupt, beholden government. (Another pretty good site with related links here).

As an aside, and I hesitate to bring this up because it is further evidence of RW dominance in controlling (or in this case, erasing) the narrative, when I went to search DuckDuckGo for I couldn't find a direct link to the page. Instead all these other sites came up, like this and this weird one, that however intended, even as a smarmy ode to the original, they dilute the raw power of that powerful forum, in my opinion. I think they're purposefully meant to distort the original content, and actually pushed my search to having to find a link through a story written about the tumblr page from either Mother Jones (who still had some integrity back in 2011), WaPo (maybe the same) and the Atlantic. I still think the subject of controlling the narrative and recognizing the attendant propaganda used to do so is perhaps the biggest thing we should concentrate on here. With that, I echo the praise for you upthread for your efforts in doing just that by investigating a matter during the #DNCFraud of the 2016 primary.

I sympathize with all of your personal tribulations. I find in myself a tendency to occasionally feel isolated about mine. But then I realize that especially here, we know the truth. It's an epidemic, afflicting this whole epoch, in which we've been beaten down by the Economic Terrorism of Wall St. It's a sobering realization that we're on our own and more than ever need each other, as flagrant corruption and pillaging runs roughshod over us. But I take solace in this community and my own local activist friends that we have these channels and networks for one another. It's only a matter of time until many of those zombified political partisans holding us back believe the same.

Best to you, dear friend, and your family. I really hope to see you again soon.

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"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:

THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"

- Kurt Vonnegut

Steven D's picture

@Mark from Queens How is your wonderful spouse and child? I hope doing well. I will always have fond memories of meeting all of you folks in Philly at the DNC. I will check out the tumblr. Sounds like a good concept. It's so difficult these days when any form of mass social media (FB, reddit, twitter) is censoring voices on the left.

I am sorry to hear that about duckduckgo as that has become my default search engine. Sounds like they could be knuckling under to pressure from someone. That would be a damn shame, if true.

One of these days we should have another get together in NYC or someplace.

Take care.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

that things are difficult. Blessings to you and your family.

It seems like there is an unrecoverable downward spiral in the US and the world.

We truly have no representation, because the wealthy, who stole their wealth from the non-wealthy (one way or another - by not paying labor its value, manipulating markets, etc) have bought all of the politicians. And they are controlling research and information, and they have the power to kill or imprison anyone who protests.

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dfarrah

Steven D's picture

@dfarrah @dfarrah I think our family's troubles are no worse, and probably better than many others. It's hard times for everyone unless you are independently wealthy and have no soul. I truly believe what we saw in 2016 was the exposure of the soft coup that the oligarchs have accomplished over the last three decades. I honestly think our corporate overlords' main objection to Trump is simply his unpredictability. They'd prefer a known quantity, Dem or GOP as President who would do their bidding with less bombast.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

sending thanks, healing thought-wishes and hugs.

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

Steven D's picture

@Ellen North I appreciate the thoughts, and also the compliment.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

plus, thank you for the countless ways you have opened my eyes and contributed to my hopefulness. I truly believe family matters are the most important things we can be focussed on, and so I thank you for doing what you are doing and hopeful you'll contribute here as often as you can. Peace, Steven D.

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Steven D's picture

@Linda Wood Means a lot.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

mhagle's picture

I don't have any wise or clever words, but please know that in my heart I cherish your wisdom and words in print and video. Thank you.

Best wishes to you and your family. Peace and love.

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Marilyn

"Make dirt, not war." eyo

Steven D's picture

@mhagle I appreciate your comments and posts here as well.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott