Open Thread - Thurs 14 Apr 2022: As We All Know...
... There is No 'Official' Left in the USA
I am on a bunch of email begging lists I never subscribed to. I don't think Bernie sold my info on, I hope. Years ago, I was part of MoveOn (yes, I know, but it was when it started, late 1990s). I think they sold on my info, but who knows? Maybe it's ActBlue that did it. If I tell one of the begging lists I want to 'unsubscribe' they let me, but then I end up on about 3 more lists which I never subscribed to. This means I get tons of emails a day, asking that I fill out stupid, pointless, never used surveys and then donate money to 'make it happen', or whatever. I get these emails from congressional candidates, from pacs, from... whoever.
The standard slant for these emails is corporate, MSM approved, Democrat. Ohh, just as Biden promised when he was running, there will be paragraphs about how 'we' have to do something. For example, there might be paragraphs about some watered down form of Medicare for All - remember Biden and the Dems are trying as hard as they can! (sarcasm) - then the email urges you to donate money to help whatever they writing abouthappen.
One thing I have noticed is that the people/algorithms/computers or whatever is running these things have no idea that maybe, just maybe, I don't fill out the survey, I unsubscribe and I never give money, because I'm to the LEFT of the ideas expressed in the emails. Instead, the assumption seems to be (at least from the emails I get sent) that I must be to the RIGHT of them, and must really like those 'rogue' repukes doing such 'daring' things.
As an example, here's some titles from a few begging emails I got in the last 10 days or so:
- Liz Cheney investigating Fox News!?
- what Liz Cheney just did to Marjorie Taylor Greene…
- Liz Cheney & Mitt Romney OBLITERATED Trump
- Liz Cheney just DECIMATED Trump!
- Re: Elizabeth Lynne Cheney [what does mumblemumble think?]
- [MUST READ!] Liz Cheney’s chilling warning…
- Liz Cheney just SLAMMED Trump →
- Liz Cheney just ʟᴀɪᴅ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀᴡ
The senders are different, supposedly, and include turnoutpac, democratic-strategy, and ameripacfund (the reply to address for this one is Steny Hoyer; like I give a crap about Steny Hoyer).
There's also articles about these people on standard 'left'/democratic sites (I haven't read any of these articles, I just clipped the links from other articles and spam emails). From Mother Jones:
Hero: Liz Cheney (subtitle): Her quest to hold Trump accountable for the insurrection won’t erase her awful legacy. That doesn’t make it any less courageous (end of subtitle).
I got these from Alternet. The first one apparently originated on DK (blerg).
Relentless Liz Cheney spares no Republican complicit in Trump's crimes
Funny how the two articles above use the same pic of Cheney, heh.
There's other adoring articles and 'news' stories about all kinds of right-wing neoconservative twits who've made or are making a comeback. Taibbi talks about that in this article on John Podhoretz, one of those neoconservatives. Taibbi is NOT adoring, of course. Go Matt.
I think this all shows one of the ways the powers that be try to direct our opinions and thinking about things. They gin up fake 'heroes'. They assume if you aren't for the center-right democrats, then you must be really to the right. Not to the left They disappear any supposed 'radical' left/socialist/whatever ideas. But if those ideas pop up with full support during elections, they promise to make those ideas happen (with their fingers crossed behind their backs). Soon as the election is over, it's back to business. We are told to hate/love someone because of their opinion on Trump or some other stupid thing, not on medicare, housing, student loans, minimum wage, food rights... We all know this. We've all seen it too many times. I now think voting means nothing. I don't even know that we can trust that our votes are counted properly, or if they are, that another 10,000 or whatever votes aren't added to the total to tilt the results in the direction the PTB want.
We've spoken about some solutions here: third parties, ranked choice voting, human counted voting, opting out and so on. I support them all, I think ranked choice voting, and human counted voting *might* help. I think supporting leftist candidates in any party will help but, I also expect those candidates to be sucked into the centrifuge of corruption in DC within a couple years (Hi AOC, you scumbag). Maybe term limits too?
So, thanks for reading and here's the open thread - and remember, everything is interesting if you dive deep enough!
Comments
We are not a democracy or even a republic...
The US is a corporate oligarchy. Voting is a joke, meant to fool the public into thinking they have a voice. The warmonger nature of this country is meant to enrich the MIC not to really win any conflict. This is a nation of incompetence driven by greed. Not something to be proud of for sure.
I don't like to say that, but it is the way I see it. Fortunately I can hide in the holler and garden as the storm of war rages elsewhere...at least for now.
As to unwanted ads, I used to get lots of money request in the mail. I started putting thin boards and/or cardboard in their postage free envelopes and returning them with my address on them. Inflexible mail gets them a surcharge. Didn't take long before all the requests stopped. As to email, like you I take the time to unsubscribe but continue to get a regular dribble.
Thanks for the OT. Hope everyone has a nice day!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
NOt a democracy, not a republic
I sure agree. I spent a lot of my time hiding, not in a hollar, but close enough, on the farm. And yet it still gets to me. Heh, my neighbor, nice enough, is a Trump fan. Like 'Stop the Steal' and all that. It's so weird. And none of it really matters, except to make us hate each other so we don't band together and actually do something.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
So it is love-a-neocon season?
Reminds me of the democrat "improved messaging" solution to their failures.
Total B.S. imo. But then I didn't ever think like the majority apparently does.
Thanks for the OT!
Don 't think like the majority?
I don't either, although, maybe it's the 'apparent' majority? I'm not sure we can even trust the polls... It's so damned depressing.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
I despair
for I believe that since Jimmy Carter no matter who is in charge, the U.S. government is either indifferent or hostile to citizens who cannot buy the influence to make their lives better. Just about everything that serves as a check or balance has been neutered. The Great Orange Satan is railing how democrats messaging is off, when my eyes and ears tell me that decade after decade the democrats message is exactly what they want to say. When the democrats lose they always point to the voters to lay blame, when over and over the leaders disappoint and fall short. It's always us that don't fight hard enough, never them, all those in power.
If todays democrats were fighting Hitler I am sure they would compromise. Hey, we talked the Nazis into only killing 3 million Jews instead of 6 million. We saved 3 million Jews, we're great! Vote for us! Also donate money.
Heh, that comment about the Dems and the Nazis
is spot on. And you are right. Heck, the first Dem I voted for, was Carter. He lost to Reagan. I saw a difference between them, but I was mostly following party lines. I was like 18 years old. And it's been the same all the time, they promise stuff, then blame us voters when THEY don't do what they promised. Fewer and fewer of us are falling for it. What happens when the people who vote are a minority? Oh yea, TPTB will fake the numbers!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Age Limits
Besides term limits, I think that we need to start talking about age limits. I think that 70 is old enough for President and 75 for Congress. Most of these politicians are in better shape than the average person, mostly because of their gold plated health plans. But everyone starts going downhill in their 60's, either physically, mentally, or both.
Make it 72 for both /nt
https://www.euronews.com/
72
works for me!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Age Limits
That makes sense. And I say that as someone who is almost 60. I'm so tired of the same old schmucks in Congress over, and over and over, and over. Gads. I want term limits too, so someone can't enter congress at 25 and leave at ... death in the 90s.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Elon Musk is a loose cannon but this might get interesting.
https://thehill.com/policy/technology/3267160-elon-musk-offers-to-buy-tw...
There is no doubt that many heads would explode if it became reality.
Eg like this:
Edited to add this perspective:
I rely on snoopydawg to pick something from twitter
I would never read it myself. And I can live without Musk and Twitter. I can live without facebook, and Besoz. Who needs frigging rich oligarchs? They themselves, We would all be better off without them.
https://www.euronews.com/
NO oligarchs
I sure agree with that! Should be that after one attains a certain amount of money, taxes are 90%, and that person gets banned from the public and from politics. Heh, that would never work, but it's an idea.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
I detest Musk
well, Elon Musk. Goat musk is ok, in small doses (heh). But I hate the google/facebook/amazon owners too. What is an alternative to them, I wonder?
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Soon to be coming to a battlefield near you.
Only if...
the robots kill robots, not humans. THEN I could support this. Not now, how disgusting.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Good evening, Sima
Very busy day at work, then busy when I got home. Packing for a weekend trip to Luckenbach is time consuming. It requires two whole outfits!
Well, there is no left in this country. Some folks advocate not voting as a protest, but the system only recognizes it as under votes, not protest.
FDR was the man my g'parents and parents' supported. He wasn't perfect, protected capitalism (dammit!), but he did initiate programs that not only helped the poor, but kept them alive. Oh, and gave them hope.
I am so dismissive of Democrats now. I ain't a fan of Republicans, but Greens are hugely disappointing. I nevertheless vote 3rd party when the opportunity arises.
Nobody elected is honest. Kucinich said when you get "there", it is almost impossible not to be influenced by lobbyists and your seniors.
We need a do over.
Have a great weekend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
FDR, my grandparents supported him
too. Grandad on one side was a trucker, on the other an electrician. So, he earned their support. But now? I won't vote for either party now. The left is gone, disappeared, quieted and shut up. Heck, that's even starting to be true in Europe and Britain :(. As for third parties, I try. The Greens aren't very... promising. The People's Party? I dunno.
Fun stuff. Weekend trip sounds fun! It's been stressful here at the farm. Three goat does got pregnant on the sly when a buck escaped last Fall. We did not even know they were pregnant until a week or so before (when the udders filled) because they all kept flagging like does in heat will do. As they are does, they all gave birth about midnight or later (5 am anyone?) but the last one, who started while we had the window/roof cleaners in! AND... the dog was sick and I was at the emergency vets with her. All seems well, Jaska is doing ok, the vets got her sickness under control. We could all use a weekend trip!!! It sounds great, Luckenbach Texas... my mind finishes 'with Waylon and Willy and the boys...'
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
My parents were alarmed and grieved
when Eisenhower got more votes than Stevenson but I had no idea why. People in my high school loved the outcome. See the odd map here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1952_United_States_presidential_election
Recently a friend confided that in fact they had voted for HRC, would not "throw away their vote" to the Green party.
Sanity feels very rare.
My Dad, the soldier,
said never vote for a soldier. They are trained to say "yes, sir" to individuals they feel are in charge, not majority vote or opinion. The parents did not vote for Ike.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
I don’t think it can work
3rd parties will never be able to compete with the dark money that flows into both parties, nor is there any way to keep the intelligence agencies from targeting the people running. Add in the banks, lobbyists and think tanks…nope there is no way to vote our way out of this mess.
Feinstein has also lost her mind but is running again anyway. Even DK is against her running because she’s just not there. Video in the blues tonight about her. But does anyone remember democrats talking about how bad she has gotten just before they let her run the hearings on Barrett and she did a lousy job? They set her up to fail because they wanted Barrett on the court. But for them to blame it on Feinstein's mind was very low.
Jayapal just endorsed the democrat centrist running against Nina Turner. There goes her progressive bonafides …oh wait!
Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.
Ranked voting might help.
I just don't see it changing in my lifetime.
Wish I were young, but if I were, I would be propaganda educated and on a cell phone most waking hours.
We are the last generation to be aware of the demise of our world, so I guess that is something. Who want's to die stupid?
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Die Stupid?
Not me. I have hopes for Ranked Choice voting, but I don't see it getting implemented any time soon. Certainly not for president. But does president matter than much? How many senile, demented old codgers have we had as president in the last 40 years? Or stupid idiots. Or cia/fbi grifters.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Feinstein...
When I was a little kid/teen in the Bay Area, she was the major of San Fran. Hated her then too. I was, even then, a hard leftist. She's two years older than my Dad. My Dad is gonna be 87, and he's moving into the late stages of dementia. Not that everyone that age does so, but damn. She is in it, and so is Byedone! It's so obvious, after seeing it happen to my Dad. So obvious.
I'm afraid I agree with you. Voting our way out is probably not gonna happen. Not with third parties. It's gonna take a bonus army, a revolt, rebellion (which will be destroyed, but... people will start to notice and speak up) in the streets...
Jayapal is from my area, but not my district. I had good hopes for her, but her going against Nina? Sheeete!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Here’s the skinny on Feinstein
Looks like someone really wants Feinstein to retire.
Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.
I'm not a colleague
But I think she should have retired about 15 years ago...
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so