My thanks for your so important review of the almost beyond belief 6th of January attempt to destroy the legally elected Democratic Government of The America . Impossible to use the description " UNITED States of America then and also now. Essentially such an event must have the full force of the law, if it still exists , to punish all concerned especially Donald Trump and his Proud Boys. Such a response is of paramount importance, which obviously involves the arrest and imprisonment especially of Trump who was undoubtedly the culprit. As for the Proud Boys, both fines and imprisonment must be their punishment. Absolutely no hesitation, when the preservation of Democracy is at stake.
Also while all this is swirling, we have the vote-deciding factor of high inflation going on which is scaring people -- and some people have never experienced this ever. When it comes to the ballot box, we need to communicate that the form of governance is paramount. That is what is at the ballot box. Inflation will end. Without listening, dialoguing and educating, people will reflectively vote for the party not currently in power. Ruth, at some point can you help educate us on the economies under fascism so that we have talking points when talking to middle class Americans fearful first of inflation?
Hitler's fascism used a cartel economic system, where oligopolies were rampant. Business had great power and so unions were a threat to them, and therefore banned. Germany had business/goverment collusion. The business/government collusion in the US is seen on K Street DC with lobbying. The Citizens United decision by the SCOTUS is more evidence that we have this fascist trait. Far right autocratic political systems usually have an autocratic business environment.
Thanks Steve for your insight. I don't see mention of small & family businesses. Are they a casualty of that kind of economy? Does innovation or new small business even stand a chance?
As I recall, small businesses were still in business during Hitler's reign. My example of this were the thousands of family owned wineries. Hitler preferred rural Germany over urban Germany, so farms and wineries were probably honored. Not sure about the innovation/ startups at that time.
Thank you Ruth for the depth and clearness of such a complex , moving entity. I am grateful tonight for the J6 committee, their subject matter experts such as yourself, a genuine President working on real problems while this unspools itself, the Lucid community and the silent majority of Americans that hopefully are re-awakening their appreciation of the benefits of democracy. The opposite is unthinkable.
Thanks. I tweeted a mutual acquaintance of ours, spoke about the signs, happenings, attitudes and the need for a sound "backup plan." I've never had so many likes. I have this constant pit in my stomach, I've never had before, at least, not in this lifetime. Our acquaintance is going to Vienna for, what sounds like a rescue mission for humanity. I had an urge to tell him to take the family. Do we create history ?, or do we follow it. What is it that decides when the trigger of fate is pulled. I'm reading a book on Gobekli Tepe. The author mentions Sodom, Gomorrah and Zohar, and the catastrophic events that were probable prior to their demise. As you state, Coups have dress rehearsals. I have a bad feeling, Ruth. One I just can't shake. I hope I'm wrong................. The definition of a troll is one who goes where they are not wanted, to sow antagonistic seeds of doubt, division, chaos and propaganda. One who will insert lies for the purpose of, divide and conquer, as well as to disrupt the civil course, of discourse. Pedagogy, is the coming together to name our experience. A "Goebbels Troll" hates that process and dedicates their comments toward destruction. Now, everyone here can see how propaganda and its aim of destruction works. For, we have a full fledged Fascist troll in our mist. Take note, this is how it works. This is how boldface lies undermines truth. Thanks for leaving the post in Ruth, good teaching moment.
Pardon my naïveté or ignorance, but doesn’t it take more than just the physical presence of people inside the building to wrest the legal control of a nation from its constitutionally elected and defined leader? Of course J6 was horrifying but could someone explain how it’s actually possible for some dude to just push his way in and just say “now I’m in charge”? I can’t just proclaim I’m Bill Gates’ new wife, just because I feel like it, and therefore entitled to his financial support. Thanks!
Fascism grows much like fungi in the world of mycology. The mycelium, or subterranean network (thought control), supports an eventual fruiting body (fascism).
There, Ruth, you've said it, "Bring Trump to justice." It just happens that the woman who fomented the coup that ousted Evo Morales in Bolivia was just sentenced to 10 years in prison, along with other associates. Presidents do go to jail. I hear the DOJ is watching. It is going to be great TV when Trump is brought up on innumerable charges and goes to prison! Fitting that he will be hoisted on his own petard of threatening to jail others.
Isn't the coup another example of trump's following hitler's playbook? More examples: separating children from mothers at the border (as in the Jewish death camps); "tell a big lie and repeat it over and over" (mein kampf); firing uncooperative people in positions of power and replacing them with sycophants... I think the media and Dems need to make these connections! Psychopathy is not just self-centeredness.
There is a very real connection between psychopathy (primary and secondary) and authoritarianism. This is especially true in fascism. It seems to be the politics of lunacy. The media needs to continue and escalate its coverage of Trump's secondary psychopathy traits and how those were seen in fascist leaders of the past. Allow people to connect the dots so to speak. MSNBC had Dr Lance Dodes (Psychiatrist) give his impression about Trump a few years ago. It was a bombshell. Dr Bandy Lee put out a book on the danger that Trump posed, due to his mental condition. More of this is needed to stop the slide into fascism.
The problem is despite it being perfectly clear trump is a clinical psychopath, they have been blackballed - and fired even, for pointing this out. Har’es clinical assessment tool is very easy to use with public info- trump scores very high, yet those in the media will not call him what he is.
Intimidation. Interesting today to see the text or email messages released that were sent to Cassidy Hutchinson to intimidate her. Sounds like obstruction of justice. Intimidation is at best, uncouth behavior of the the GOP. All people for democracy must stand strong in these hours.
What was striking to me about the coup attempt was the degree of propaganda necessary to pull it off, and the degree of unreality needed to be sold to these people. They had to be sold on Trump's neofascism as well, and believe that this system would save the nation. The rioters had to have an extreme sense of victimhood, that an outside enemy was attacking them and that they had to fight like hell to protect THEIR nation. It was the ultimate bamboozle!
I have wondered about that too. What caused so many people to be so vulnerable to be led like sheep (or wolves). I agree with you about the sense of victimhood. I wonder if the 'replacement theory' talk has been echoing in private, quiet echo chambers for longer than we realize. I spent my spring reading on the roots of anger, fear, guilt and shame -- trying to back into this root of the issue, as I see it. Why are we such an angry population? With so many modern conveniences -- why the anger? Sometimes I detect from people that this started out on this journey with the election of a black president -- it insulted their white privilege. Then God forbid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- really got under the skin of women who detest and distance from successful career women, who should be hanging closer to the kitchen. Stirred up and solidified patriarchy v. matriarchy talk. Toss in immigration resistance (thought we were all immigrants except our Native American brothers and sisters..). And a feeling that they've been left behind financially, a copycat, diminished moral compass -- 'look at all the crooks, .. how.. did they figure out to do that? Can I do that too?' For a less thoughtful segment of America, it swirled into staunch, silent white privilege victimization and income inequality competitiveness to quickly get on the heavier side of the financial equation. Somehow being mature, thought-ful, having genuine expertise and compassion grew to be unfashionable.
I appreciate that President Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, the Biden administration , cabinet and press secretaries have accentuated these American values when they speak.
I agree, and victimization and victimhood has never been an American idealized value.
The anger that Trump tapped into, had its roots in our broken middle class economy, where jobs were outsourced to cheaper labor markets. The subsequent deindustrialization allowed a charlatan to come to power. He amplified their sense of victimhood for political gain. In the early 1970's a bill was proposed to greatly limit outsourcing. If it had passed, our nation would be a very different place today. It was called the Burke-Hartke Bill. Our business community had it smashed, so outsoucing proceeded with little to no restrictions. Anger, victimhood and vengeance became normalized.
Thank you, for this clear explanation with detail. Almost the roots of this mess. Why people are so angry & full of unspoken grievances. The beginning of outsourcing was like flipping a switch as I recall. It was a tidal wave that businesses wanted to jump onto.
So much anger and (false) victimhood. Even my 70+ y..o. bus driver today was unnecessarily snarky, I politely and indirectly called him out on it & he realized his rudeness. Anger is just spewing in the world like lava from a volcano. People need to go back to charm school and practice civility. An hour later I saw an angry exchange between 2 women over nothing. I think there maybe heightened anger in former Trump supporters as this is unraveling and being exposed. Perhaps people feel associated to it and are now embarrassed or who knows what.
Ruth - do you think Garland will ever do his job? Do you think the US Army will ever recall Flynn and court-martial him for his treasonous actions? Will Boebert be charged for calling for Biden’s death by coyly doing so with a Bible verse? (And so on down the never ending line of crimes ignored in this country.)
Do you think Biden and the entire Democratic Leadership Team will actually face this ongoing coup before being arrested and hauled off as traitors to the new order?
Given your courageous outspokenness on all of this I hope you are aware that you will be marked as a target once the Republican Fascist Party takes over after their next coup is successful. Please look out for yourself and your loved ones.
I would love Ruth’s answer on this. I decided Garland was compromised 6 months after he started due to his lack of action and his close connections to private lawyers who work for trump & his family. I don’t think anything will be done except to foot soldiers. Hope I am wrong.
The "right" train left the station along time ago, in this country. Those of use who receive any type of threats, especially death threats, never dismiss them. What we are, is very grounded in reality and know these things are a part of speaking the truth. It's reality. I seem to have upset you, my apologies.
No apology necessary. I wasn’t upset. I responded to what I perceived to be your tone of saying “threats happen if you speak up so no biggie”.
My commenting to Ruth about having a plan was to suggest that she have a safety/go plan if America turns sharply into theocratic fascism like the RFP wants. She doesn’t need me to say that - she’s written about the subject before. I was feeling protective of her given how rotten the news is every damn day.
I take threats very seriously. Especially the one from a neighbor that said I should be put down because I don’t “love trump”. My neighbor is a rabid gun nut & she’s threatened me before. I had to get a lawyer to deal with her. In my favor is her ignoring that I am a veteran and not at all afraid of firearms. I plan to move prior to Nov 2022 & hope she doesn’t try to make me put my skills to the test before that happens. And no, the local cops don’t care about her threats. Their reply was “aw, you know her - she’s just high-spirited”.
Anyway, I was expressing my worry for Ruth. That goes for all of us not part of the fascist club. Take care all.
However, given that those currently in positions of authority to do something won’t, due to denial of reality, incompetence or complicity, it seems quite likely that the votes of the 1/3 of voters who don’t want to live under a theocratic fascist state won’t matter at all.
We should absolutely still vote of course. We should also not pin our hopes on Garland, Biden, etc ever doing their actual jobs and should prepare for the potential changes ahead.
Yes, this could end badly, and if it does, I will leave the US... but not just yet. The deindustrialization of the nation has set the stage for fascism to flourish here. Christo-fascists have joined forces with political fascists to form an unholy juggernaut. We have to keep fighting these dark forces.
You are lucky then. To have the choice to leave. I don’t have the choice. I can report that knowing this, knowing I will be stuck here in the hell that the RFP will create already affects my mental and physical health. That negative effect has to be so much worse for all the groups that the RFP is already gleefully tormenting and intending to erase.
Every day be proactive and listen, talk and spread the education to others. You will be helping the cause and you will feel better too. We seek to change the moderates. We are the silent majority.
"Do the hardest thing. Activism is the antidote to despair." -- Beto O'Rourke, in Texas, after Ulvalde.
Your last two sentences, Professor, sum up the situation:
"The hearings of the House committee remind us of how extraordinarily fortunate we are that this coup attempt failed. Bringing the conspirators to justice, Trump included, is essential to protecting our democracy in the future."
And yet the gaslighting, disinformation and misinformation continue wreaking havoc on the public trust. Without holding those responsible for the J6 assault and all the scheming before that, we will remain teetering on the precipice.
The narrative that the Committee is presenting focuses on Trump, not simply as a delusional, desperate old man but as a willing, willful participant who would not take 'no' for an answer. More worrisome still are the senators and reps who went along to get along for party loyalty purposes and the retention of their own positions.
Garland is the man of the moment. Will that moment - and history - see him finally doing his job with serious, urgent intent or giving in to denial and cowardice (or complicity?)?
I certainly hope it's the former choice, Kasumii. Otherwise, we're likely to see another, ever more dangerous assault on our institutions and the rule of law.
I'm expecting Garland to do his job but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried.
I hope it is the former as well Peg but given his lack of action so far I don’t think he will do squat. (Someone who supposedly holds true to our laws should have opened 2 investigations right after taking that office - one for the corrupt actions of the entire trump administration and one for Jan 6th.)
However, I listened to an NPR program today that gave me a tiny bit of hope. The lawyers interviewed said that the investigation in Georgia for election fraud and for threatening the GA Secretary of State for not “finding 11,000 votes” will likely bear fruit long before Garland does anything. They also mentioned a potential grift/fraud case where trump requested funds (& received 250 million dollars) for a stated election defense fund which did not exist. The DOJ would have to take this one up but it is pretty cut & dried - requesting funds for a organization that doesn’t exist is wire fraud which is a federal offense - and, if I am correct, each donation would be a separate count of wire fraud. The lawyers interviewed said that if the DOJ ignores this one it would be a case of obvious incompetence or complicity (and if so, I would hope that Garland would be investigated for doing nothing about it). Time will tell but both are possibilities of holding that traitor responsible.
I am impatient too. I do think that DOJ is allowing the J6 committee to do alot of the legwork while also doing the important work of re-educating the American public -- who has grown lazy and ungrateful (all of us to some extent) as to the benefits of democracy. By allowing the committee to do much of the work , DOJ is working the prosecutions of the lower-level fruit of those that physically attacked the Capitol. By this method, DOJ is attacking the overall problem on 2 fronts at the same time. (my theory, who knows) While this is moving slowly, there can be hope that the anger level may recede slightly, and more Americans will move to the moderate center again. Deep change requires resonating thought, which is best of a span of time. Quick action does not soak in for better, lasting permanence. While justice like this is taking longer, more pieces on the chess board move in reaction to the investigation as people seek to coverup and realign themselves which reveals more rich evidence.
'Truth reveals itself like steam to a kettle of water' Patience in watching this is difficult.
Consider the hearings yesterday … Barr, Stepien, … so called ‘team normal’, were labeling trump as crazy, delusion when in fact his behavior of deny, lie, repeat is a pattern of decades. They were pro coup pre-election and beyond. Their movement away started because they saw this one would not succeed. The margin - popular vote and across multiple states - of the Biden victory was too much to overcome.
Now they (and I assume many R elites) are willing to toss him aside. “It was just a few crazies’ When in fact it was the GOP writ large. Their testimony can be see as an audition for the next coup. Probably had or will shortly have conversations with DeathSantis. This is McConnell’s dream; dump the hated trump but keep the transfer of $$ to the wealthy, no regulations, his personal power, corruption … at the expense of the working and middle class. The white supremacy is an added bonus.
If we don’t hold, not just trump, but the many participants and enablers accountable …
There will be a next time and the probability of success high.
We already have a corporatocracy, replete with oligarchs. To gain even more power, they could easily push for a cartel economy like that seen under fascism. This is what the coup plotting in 1933 was all about. Prescott Bush spearheaded the organization to install fascism here. It was stopped before the coup took place.
Today, I believe that our oligarchs want the power that fascism would bring them.
Those of us who have a sense of history and even saw this coup on tv as it happened and have witnessed it’s development through the years, we take note of this authoritarian and hateful element along with White supremacy, we remain aware and thankful for those who still know that loving care is warranted. Our souls recognize that we are one with each other and this planet and cosmos. Be strong and Bless us all.
Another great piece...BUT...here's the thing. A large number of people in the USA have a completely different viewpoint. They can't see the danger of what this attempted coup represented.
Here is what I remember about January 6, 2020. Gas $2.25/gallon, inflation1.75%, no wars, enemies that feared us, a President that could speak in complete sentences and retain a thought for more than 4 seconds, a President that believed in American exceptionalism, secure borders energy independence and a robust economy. How far we have fallen in 18 months!
HERE'S ANOTHER...
Mowerman:
21 hours ago
Rather than have a real investigation into the events of January 6th, looking at all the issues, including what decisions were made to protect the capitol and who made them, this is another sham investigation with a pre-determined outcome with the only Republications on the committee being those that voted to impeach Trump, this is not about finding facts, but about placing blame on Trump and removing any blame that Nancy might have.
I COULD POST MORE...but I won't.
Thank you Ruth for doing what you do. I sincerely hope that Trumpism fades away. I hope that a rational approach to politics will emerge to tackle some of the USA's most urgent problems. But I fear the worst....I fear that as Ruth writes, this is all a pre-game show and authoratarianism will rear its head in ways that many will find inconceiveable.
I will repost one of her key points here - just because it sums things up so succinctly.
Yet the United States is also in an unusually dangerous situation in that the party that conspired in the authoritarian takeover remains unrepentant and continues to spout the Big Lie that justified the coup (the need to "stop the steal" and restore Trump to his rightful place as president).
Those Fox viewer sentiments that you posted show the danger of a destructive charismatic leader like Trump and the cult that they form around them. Gone are logic, truth, empathy, acceptance of other ideas; gained are confirmation bias, bigotry, post-truth, violence, victimhood and vengeance. Those quotes from Fox were essentially rationalizing fascism. It's sad that they don't even know what fascism is. That's why it's so easy to sell fascism in this nation.
You are right. I can't see the danger in people protesting against what they believe is an injustice. The fact that the protest turned violent is not evidence that it was an attempted coup. If it was, then the BLM/Antifa protests/riots of 2020 were also an attempted coup.
The coup continues. The authoritarian march towards autocracy and the Trump leader cult can not be stopped or defeated unless its leader is indicted and convicted. The hearings may soften the country when the Justice department brings charges against Trump and his conspirators for conspiracy and sedition to over throw the government of the United States.
This was indeed a premeditated and sprawling and multi step conspiracy. I don't think most of the country realizes just how close this coup attempt came to succeeding.
My thanks for your so important review of the almost beyond belief 6th of January attempt to destroy the legally elected Democratic Government of The America . Impossible to use the description " UNITED States of America then and also now. Essentially such an event must have the full force of the law, if it still exists , to punish all concerned especially Donald Trump and his Proud Boys. Such a response is of paramount importance, which obviously involves the arrest and imprisonment especially of Trump who was undoubtedly the culprit. As for the Proud Boys, both fines and imprisonment must be their punishment. Absolutely no hesitation, when the preservation of Democracy is at stake.
Amen and amen, and a woman as well! Bless us each and all…
Also while all this is swirling, we have the vote-deciding factor of high inflation going on which is scaring people -- and some people have never experienced this ever. When it comes to the ballot box, we need to communicate that the form of governance is paramount. That is what is at the ballot box. Inflation will end. Without listening, dialoguing and educating, people will reflectively vote for the party not currently in power. Ruth, at some point can you help educate us on the economies under fascism so that we have talking points when talking to middle class Americans fearful first of inflation?
With gratitude and thanks,
Hitler's fascism used a cartel economic system, where oligopolies were rampant. Business had great power and so unions were a threat to them, and therefore banned. Germany had business/goverment collusion. The business/government collusion in the US is seen on K Street DC with lobbying. The Citizens United decision by the SCOTUS is more evidence that we have this fascist trait. Far right autocratic political systems usually have an autocratic business environment.
Thanks Steve for your insight. I don't see mention of small & family businesses. Are they a casualty of that kind of economy? Does innovation or new small business even stand a chance?
As I recall, small businesses were still in business during Hitler's reign. My example of this were the thousands of family owned wineries. Hitler preferred rural Germany over urban Germany, so farms and wineries were probably honored. Not sure about the innovation/ startups at that time.
Thank you Ruth for the depth and clearness of such a complex , moving entity. I am grateful tonight for the J6 committee, their subject matter experts such as yourself, a genuine President working on real problems while this unspools itself, the Lucid community and the silent majority of Americans that hopefully are re-awakening their appreciation of the benefits of democracy. The opposite is unthinkable.
Thanks. I tweeted a mutual acquaintance of ours, spoke about the signs, happenings, attitudes and the need for a sound "backup plan." I've never had so many likes. I have this constant pit in my stomach, I've never had before, at least, not in this lifetime. Our acquaintance is going to Vienna for, what sounds like a rescue mission for humanity. I had an urge to tell him to take the family. Do we create history ?, or do we follow it. What is it that decides when the trigger of fate is pulled. I'm reading a book on Gobekli Tepe. The author mentions Sodom, Gomorrah and Zohar, and the catastrophic events that were probable prior to their demise. As you state, Coups have dress rehearsals. I have a bad feeling, Ruth. One I just can't shake. I hope I'm wrong................. The definition of a troll is one who goes where they are not wanted, to sow antagonistic seeds of doubt, division, chaos and propaganda. One who will insert lies for the purpose of, divide and conquer, as well as to disrupt the civil course, of discourse. Pedagogy, is the coming together to name our experience. A "Goebbels Troll" hates that process and dedicates their comments toward destruction. Now, everyone here can see how propaganda and its aim of destruction works. For, we have a full fledged Fascist troll in our mist. Take note, this is how it works. This is how boldface lies undermines truth. Thanks for leaving the post in Ruth, good teaching moment.
Pardon my naïveté or ignorance, but doesn’t it take more than just the physical presence of people inside the building to wrest the legal control of a nation from its constitutionally elected and defined leader? Of course J6 was horrifying but could someone explain how it’s actually possible for some dude to just push his way in and just say “now I’m in charge”? I can’t just proclaim I’m Bill Gates’ new wife, just because I feel like it, and therefore entitled to his financial support. Thanks!
Fascism grows much like fungi in the world of mycology. The mycelium, or subterranean network (thought control), supports an eventual fruiting body (fascism).
There, Ruth, you've said it, "Bring Trump to justice." It just happens that the woman who fomented the coup that ousted Evo Morales in Bolivia was just sentenced to 10 years in prison, along with other associates. Presidents do go to jail. I hear the DOJ is watching. It is going to be great TV when Trump is brought up on innumerable charges and goes to prison! Fitting that he will be hoisted on his own petard of threatening to jail others.
Isn't the coup another example of trump's following hitler's playbook? More examples: separating children from mothers at the border (as in the Jewish death camps); "tell a big lie and repeat it over and over" (mein kampf); firing uncooperative people in positions of power and replacing them with sycophants... I think the media and Dems need to make these connections! Psychopathy is not just self-centeredness.
Agree. Media and Dems need to amplify these connections in the next 4 1/2 months. The examples you list are solid.
Many are calling Trump's authoritarian actions neo fascistic for a reason.
There is a very real connection between psychopathy (primary and secondary) and authoritarianism. This is especially true in fascism. It seems to be the politics of lunacy. The media needs to continue and escalate its coverage of Trump's secondary psychopathy traits and how those were seen in fascist leaders of the past. Allow people to connect the dots so to speak. MSNBC had Dr Lance Dodes (Psychiatrist) give his impression about Trump a few years ago. It was a bombshell. Dr Bandy Lee put out a book on the danger that Trump posed, due to his mental condition. More of this is needed to stop the slide into fascism.
More of this is needed, Dr Dodes, Dr Lee quickly in the next 4 1/2 months.
The problem is despite it being perfectly clear trump is a clinical psychopath, they have been blackballed - and fired even, for pointing this out. Har’es clinical assessment tool is very easy to use with public info- trump scores very high, yet those in the media will not call him what he is.
Intimidation. Interesting today to see the text or email messages released that were sent to Cassidy Hutchinson to intimidate her. Sounds like obstruction of justice. Intimidation is at best, uncouth behavior of the the GOP. All people for democracy must stand strong in these hours.
What was striking to me about the coup attempt was the degree of propaganda necessary to pull it off, and the degree of unreality needed to be sold to these people. They had to be sold on Trump's neofascism as well, and believe that this system would save the nation. The rioters had to have an extreme sense of victimhood, that an outside enemy was attacking them and that they had to fight like hell to protect THEIR nation. It was the ultimate bamboozle!
I have wondered about that too. What caused so many people to be so vulnerable to be led like sheep (or wolves). I agree with you about the sense of victimhood. I wonder if the 'replacement theory' talk has been echoing in private, quiet echo chambers for longer than we realize. I spent my spring reading on the roots of anger, fear, guilt and shame -- trying to back into this root of the issue, as I see it. Why are we such an angry population? With so many modern conveniences -- why the anger? Sometimes I detect from people that this started out on this journey with the election of a black president -- it insulted their white privilege. Then God forbid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- really got under the skin of women who detest and distance from successful career women, who should be hanging closer to the kitchen. Stirred up and solidified patriarchy v. matriarchy talk. Toss in immigration resistance (thought we were all immigrants except our Native American brothers and sisters..). And a feeling that they've been left behind financially, a copycat, diminished moral compass -- 'look at all the crooks, .. how.. did they figure out to do that? Can I do that too?' For a less thoughtful segment of America, it swirled into staunch, silent white privilege victimization and income inequality competitiveness to quickly get on the heavier side of the financial equation. Somehow being mature, thought-ful, having genuine expertise and compassion grew to be unfashionable.
I appreciate that President Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, the Biden administration , cabinet and press secretaries have accentuated these American values when they speak.
I agree, and victimization and victimhood has never been an American idealized value.
Actually it started with rush Limbaugh. Psyops.
The anger that Trump tapped into, had its roots in our broken middle class economy, where jobs were outsourced to cheaper labor markets. The subsequent deindustrialization allowed a charlatan to come to power. He amplified their sense of victimhood for political gain. In the early 1970's a bill was proposed to greatly limit outsourcing. If it had passed, our nation would be a very different place today. It was called the Burke-Hartke Bill. Our business community had it smashed, so outsoucing proceeded with little to no restrictions. Anger, victimhood and vengeance became normalized.
Thank you, for this clear explanation with detail. Almost the roots of this mess. Why people are so angry & full of unspoken grievances. The beginning of outsourcing was like flipping a switch as I recall. It was a tidal wave that businesses wanted to jump onto.
So much anger and (false) victimhood. Even my 70+ y..o. bus driver today was unnecessarily snarky, I politely and indirectly called him out on it & he realized his rudeness. Anger is just spewing in the world like lava from a volcano. People need to go back to charm school and practice civility. An hour later I saw an angry exchange between 2 women over nothing. I think there maybe heightened anger in former Trump supporters as this is unraveling and being exposed. Perhaps people feel associated to it and are now embarrassed or who knows what.
Shape up America, I say.
That a 70 yr old has to drive a bus is a pretty clear example of the nation’s decline and lack of basic humanity.
Exactly!
I have sent this particular essay to several of my friends. An essential reading! Thank you.
Ruth - do you think Garland will ever do his job? Do you think the US Army will ever recall Flynn and court-martial him for his treasonous actions? Will Boebert be charged for calling for Biden’s death by coyly doing so with a Bible verse? (And so on down the never ending line of crimes ignored in this country.)
Do you think Biden and the entire Democratic Leadership Team will actually face this ongoing coup before being arrested and hauled off as traitors to the new order?
Given your courageous outspokenness on all of this I hope you are aware that you will be marked as a target once the Republican Fascist Party takes over after their next coup is successful. Please look out for yourself and your loved ones.
I would love Ruth’s answer on this. I decided Garland was compromised 6 months after he started due to his lack of action and his close connections to private lawyers who work for trump & his family. I don’t think anything will be done except to foot soldiers. Hope I am wrong.
Many people who are very vocal have had threats, Kasumii. Jobs, housing, families and death. It goes with the territory.
That doesn’t make it right. Or that those receiving the threats should dismiss them just because “it goes with the territory”.
The "right" train left the station along time ago, in this country. Those of use who receive any type of threats, especially death threats, never dismiss them. What we are, is very grounded in reality and know these things are a part of speaking the truth. It's reality. I seem to have upset you, my apologies.
No apology necessary. I wasn’t upset. I responded to what I perceived to be your tone of saying “threats happen if you speak up so no biggie”.
My commenting to Ruth about having a plan was to suggest that she have a safety/go plan if America turns sharply into theocratic fascism like the RFP wants. She doesn’t need me to say that - she’s written about the subject before. I was feeling protective of her given how rotten the news is every damn day.
I take threats very seriously. Especially the one from a neighbor that said I should be put down because I don’t “love trump”. My neighbor is a rabid gun nut & she’s threatened me before. I had to get a lawyer to deal with her. In my favor is her ignoring that I am a veteran and not at all afraid of firearms. I plan to move prior to Nov 2022 & hope she doesn’t try to make me put my skills to the test before that happens. And no, the local cops don’t care about her threats. Their reply was “aw, you know her - she’s just high-spirited”.
Anyway, I was expressing my worry for Ruth. That goes for all of us not part of the fascist club. Take care all.
"... once the Republican Fascist Party takes over...."
This battle isn't over yet.
Not yet.
However, given that those currently in positions of authority to do something won’t, due to denial of reality, incompetence or complicity, it seems quite likely that the votes of the 1/3 of voters who don’t want to live under a theocratic fascist state won’t matter at all.
We should absolutely still vote of course. We should also not pin our hopes on Garland, Biden, etc ever doing their actual jobs and should prepare for the potential changes ahead.
Yes, this could end badly, and if it does, I will leave the US... but not just yet. The deindustrialization of the nation has set the stage for fascism to flourish here. Christo-fascists have joined forces with political fascists to form an unholy juggernaut. We have to keep fighting these dark forces.
You are lucky then. To have the choice to leave. I don’t have the choice. I can report that knowing this, knowing I will be stuck here in the hell that the RFP will create already affects my mental and physical health. That negative effect has to be so much worse for all the groups that the RFP is already gleefully tormenting and intending to erase.
Every day be proactive and listen, talk and spread the education to others. You will be helping the cause and you will feel better too. We seek to change the moderates. We are the silent majority.
"Do the hardest thing. Activism is the antidote to despair." -- Beto O'Rourke, in Texas, after Ulvalde.
The possiblity of something happening is not a guarantee that it will.
Of course. Wishing you well.
Your last two sentences, Professor, sum up the situation:
"The hearings of the House committee remind us of how extraordinarily fortunate we are that this coup attempt failed. Bringing the conspirators to justice, Trump included, is essential to protecting our democracy in the future."
And yet the gaslighting, disinformation and misinformation continue wreaking havoc on the public trust. Without holding those responsible for the J6 assault and all the scheming before that, we will remain teetering on the precipice.
The narrative that the Committee is presenting focuses on Trump, not simply as a delusional, desperate old man but as a willing, willful participant who would not take 'no' for an answer. More worrisome still are the senators and reps who went along to get along for party loyalty purposes and the retention of their own positions.
Merrick Garland is now the man of the moment.
agree, more worrisome still are the senators and reps . . . hopefully the web of evidence weaves back deeply and established law is used.
Garland is the man of the moment. Will that moment - and history - see him finally doing his job with serious, urgent intent or giving in to denial and cowardice (or complicity?)?
I certainly hope it's the former choice, Kasumii. Otherwise, we're likely to see another, ever more dangerous assault on our institutions and the rule of law.
I'm expecting Garland to do his job but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried.
I hope it is the former as well Peg but given his lack of action so far I don’t think he will do squat. (Someone who supposedly holds true to our laws should have opened 2 investigations right after taking that office - one for the corrupt actions of the entire trump administration and one for Jan 6th.)
However, I listened to an NPR program today that gave me a tiny bit of hope. The lawyers interviewed said that the investigation in Georgia for election fraud and for threatening the GA Secretary of State for not “finding 11,000 votes” will likely bear fruit long before Garland does anything. They also mentioned a potential grift/fraud case where trump requested funds (& received 250 million dollars) for a stated election defense fund which did not exist. The DOJ would have to take this one up but it is pretty cut & dried - requesting funds for a organization that doesn’t exist is wire fraud which is a federal offense - and, if I am correct, each donation would be a separate count of wire fraud. The lawyers interviewed said that if the DOJ ignores this one it would be a case of obvious incompetence or complicity (and if so, I would hope that Garland would be investigated for doing nothing about it). Time will tell but both are possibilities of holding that traitor responsible.
I am impatient too. I do think that DOJ is allowing the J6 committee to do alot of the legwork while also doing the important work of re-educating the American public -- who has grown lazy and ungrateful (all of us to some extent) as to the benefits of democracy. By allowing the committee to do much of the work , DOJ is working the prosecutions of the lower-level fruit of those that physically attacked the Capitol. By this method, DOJ is attacking the overall problem on 2 fronts at the same time. (my theory, who knows) While this is moving slowly, there can be hope that the anger level may recede slightly, and more Americans will move to the moderate center again. Deep change requires resonating thought, which is best of a span of time. Quick action does not soak in for better, lasting permanence. While justice like this is taking longer, more pieces on the chess board move in reaction to the investigation as people seek to coverup and realign themselves which reveals more rich evidence.
'Truth reveals itself like steam to a kettle of water' Patience in watching this is difficult.
Consider the hearings yesterday … Barr, Stepien, … so called ‘team normal’, were labeling trump as crazy, delusion when in fact his behavior of deny, lie, repeat is a pattern of decades. They were pro coup pre-election and beyond. Their movement away started because they saw this one would not succeed. The margin - popular vote and across multiple states - of the Biden victory was too much to overcome.
Now they (and I assume many R elites) are willing to toss him aside. “It was just a few crazies’ When in fact it was the GOP writ large. Their testimony can be see as an audition for the next coup. Probably had or will shortly have conversations with DeathSantis. This is McConnell’s dream; dump the hated trump but keep the transfer of $$ to the wealthy, no regulations, his personal power, corruption … at the expense of the working and middle class. The white supremacy is an added bonus.
If we don’t hold, not just trump, but the many participants and enablers accountable …
There will be a next time and the probability of success high.
We already have a corporatocracy, replete with oligarchs. To gain even more power, they could easily push for a cartel economy like that seen under fascism. This is what the coup plotting in 1933 was all about. Prescott Bush spearheaded the organization to install fascism here. It was stopped before the coup took place.
Today, I believe that our oligarchs want the power that fascism would bring them.
Economics
Those of us who have a sense of history and even saw this coup on tv as it happened and have witnessed it’s development through the years, we take note of this authoritarian and hateful element along with White supremacy, we remain aware and thankful for those who still know that loving care is warranted. Our souls recognize that we are one with each other and this planet and cosmos. Be strong and Bless us all.
'Make Love our flawless moral compass'
Another great piece...BUT...here's the thing. A large number of people in the USA have a completely different viewpoint. They can't see the danger of what this attempted coup represented.
This comment over at FoxNews.com sums it up:
Blindbat
20 hours ago
Here is what I remember about January 6, 2020. Gas $2.25/gallon, inflation1.75%, no wars, enemies that feared us, a President that could speak in complete sentences and retain a thought for more than 4 seconds, a President that believed in American exceptionalism, secure borders energy independence and a robust economy. How far we have fallen in 18 months!
HERE'S ANOTHER...
Mowerman:
21 hours ago
Rather than have a real investigation into the events of January 6th, looking at all the issues, including what decisions were made to protect the capitol and who made them, this is another sham investigation with a pre-determined outcome with the only Republications on the committee being those that voted to impeach Trump, this is not about finding facts, but about placing blame on Trump and removing any blame that Nancy might have.
I COULD POST MORE...but I won't.
Thank you Ruth for doing what you do. I sincerely hope that Trumpism fades away. I hope that a rational approach to politics will emerge to tackle some of the USA's most urgent problems. But I fear the worst....I fear that as Ruth writes, this is all a pre-game show and authoratarianism will rear its head in ways that many will find inconceiveable.
I will repost one of her key points here - just because it sums things up so succinctly.
Yet the United States is also in an unusually dangerous situation in that the party that conspired in the authoritarian takeover remains unrepentant and continues to spout the Big Lie that justified the coup (the need to "stop the steal" and restore Trump to his rightful place as president).
That elevates the risk of a repeat action.
Not the main point to be sure, but I'm still stuck back on 'a President who could speak in complete sentences.'
Those Fox viewer sentiments that you posted show the danger of a destructive charismatic leader like Trump and the cult that they form around them. Gone are logic, truth, empathy, acceptance of other ideas; gained are confirmation bias, bigotry, post-truth, violence, victimhood and vengeance. Those quotes from Fox were essentially rationalizing fascism. It's sad that they don't even know what fascism is. That's why it's so easy to sell fascism in this nation.
Fox needs to go. They are the amplifiers of the Trump garbage.
You are right. I can't see the danger in people protesting against what they believe is an injustice. The fact that the protest turned violent is not evidence that it was an attempted coup. If it was, then the BLM/Antifa protests/riots of 2020 were also an attempted coup.
The coup continues. The authoritarian march towards autocracy and the Trump leader cult can not be stopped or defeated unless its leader is indicted and convicted. The hearings may soften the country when the Justice department brings charges against Trump and his conspirators for conspiracy and sedition to over throw the government of the United States.
This was indeed a premeditated and sprawling and multi step conspiracy. I don't think most of the country realizes just how close this coup attempt came to succeeding.