There is an explanation to the madness we are witnessing — and, once again, the conscience of the country, the Pulitzer Prize winner Chris Hedges, tells us exactly what we don’t want to hear.
Empires rot from within long before the final circus arrives. Now we watch the clowns dance atop the rubble, calling it greatness. But here’s the secret: beneath every collapsing edifice, new roots are already growing. They don’t make headlines—but they will make history. Eyes open. Hands ready.
I'd like to think this is true. I suspect collapse is inevitable and preventing it isn't possible. Something else needs to take root in the place of what we're accustomed to. Something radical.
I fear we're on the cusp of another pandemic that will make covid pale in comparison. Now that our prevention infrastructure is gone, and treatments are "optional," our challenges may be overwhelming.
We may end up digging ourselves out of the rubble, wondering what kind of society we can build from scratch.
If you really want to stop the corruption, go to my Substack and read the two page introduction letter. It contains everything you need to take your country back--if you can get your fellow citizens to read it.
Thanks for Chris's astute historic analysis of the public/ruler degeneracy into idiotic madness Mike. The historical parallels with the present lunacy is especially apparent with our Fuhrer here in the USA in imitation of Putin's oligarchy, the Zion Nazi genocide, Orban's Hungary, the Ayatollah's Iran.... You name it, dumbed down masses worshiping a ruler who took everyone else's rights away piece by loaded piece just to stay in power till everything collapses from the weight of their own bullshit.
As it was in 1700, America in 2025 is controlled by a King enabled by a fraudulent, unjust legal system with enforcement of the law to privilege those in power and the super wealthy, a King supported by the super wealthy who give part of their wealth to the King, and a King who is also supported by a hateful group of dependent, enslaved idiots and white male supremacists driven by ego, greed, racism, misogyny, and ignorance. There is a sliver of hope that the King can be stopped. How? Democrats in control of states such as California need to recognize there is an insurrection underway by Trump and Republicans, enact a new law, and enforce the law in their states.
I subscribe to you and Chris Hedges. You are often a positive counterpoint to Hedges. Not so today. I think we really may be past the point of redemption. I hope this is not so, but there are many examples, if we look with open minds and eyes, that show us our democracy is a myth, and has been for quite a while. We shall see. We shall fight and do what we can, and we will not surrender quietly. Thank you for leading us.
You quote: “In ‘Hitler and the Germans,’ the political philosopher Eric Voegelin dismisses the idea that Hitler — gifted in oratory and political opportunism, but poorly educated and vulgar — mesmerized and seduced the German people. The Germans, he writes, supported Hitler and the ‘grotesque, marginal figures,’ surrounding him because he embodied the pathologies of a diseased society, one beset by economic collapse and hopelessness. Voegelin defines stupidity as a ‘loss of reality.’” But this misses the point, or misunderstands the moment: in Nazi Germany, many joyously embraced Der Fuhrer, some out of fear of the past, some out of anxiety about the future. Others joined in because of their base, foul antisemitism. Yet others saw an opportunity to profit. And, most importantly, VERY FEW objected. The Germans who protested were not many. There was never a mass demonstration opposing Hitler and Nazism, as there was in The Woman’s March during Trump 1.0. And there have been many large — though not as large — as that march of late. And the marchers will grow as Trump seizes on the military to do his disgusting, illegal, unconstitutional, immoral dirty work. There has been and will be no capitulation. In my age bracket — 60-mid 70s — I have spoken with people who have evinced a willingness to die for our Republic. No shit. DIE. These are educated, intelligent, moderate Dems, and some ultra-progressive Dems, and even some right-wing conservatives, who are not going to go gentle into the dark night of Fascism under a fat, bald, stupid, ignorant, evil, egomaniacal rapist. Further, the condition of the Weimar Republic in, say, 1923 et seq. is NOT the condition Americans face now. Inflation is or was higher than many were comfortable with, but not the staggering days of inflation the Germans faced, where the Govt had to print new bills in the MILLION mark range so people could have cash marked sufficiently to buy bread. We do not labor under the burden of the Treaty of Versailles, which bled the German nation. We have not experienced a major military loss and the commensurate damage to the collective, national psyche. I reject the defeatism. I denounce the notion that we will simply walk from our democracy to fascism, like sheep. The conditions, the people, the moment is vastly different from Germany, or Rome, or Athens.
My father and uncles ALL fought fascism, in Europe, in the East, in the Army, Navy and Marines. Four years of brutal war. The least I personally can do to honor my late father and uncles is fight the Fascist Orange Buffoon.
I am of the same vintage....us Baby Boomers are a different callibre to those in our histories who crumbled under despotism and greed. Having read Howard Zinn's Peoples' History of America, I strongly have faith that thoughtful humans (not the ones who have tragically been dumbed down by rampant commercialism) have the courage and resourcefulness to resist despotism...even die, as so many brave souls have before us to bring about change.
I do expect it will take TIME and reak a terrible toll in lives and landscapes; not just human. The Earth too has it's own way of "cutting our overpopulated species down in size" and I foresee other major pandemic/natural disaster(s) as a contributor before suggested. It is then, that the bullies and cowards desert the spotlight, just as Trump and Boris did in the UK. The masses lose trust and their Ivory towers turn to dust....
Humans have this unique ability to ADAPT and endure (is that why we are blessed with this extra sense..of humour?). We have damaged this incredibly wondrous planet, and treated fellow lifeforms with unspeakable cruelty and neglect.....yet ecological awareness and positive action has never been more powerful and effective. The "Greta Thumberg generation and followers" will inherit the Earth ( not Mars for eons yet!).
Let's NOT be depressed by the doom-mongers. History does NOT have to be repeated endlessly!
What you say here makes more sense than the few sentences claiming an absolutely same circumstance to the German State as the Nazis took control..........Of course the situation is very bad.......but,
Robert Reich has a much more thoughtful discussion on our current state of affairs, and he has decades of personal experience to draw from, as well as the education to decipher the historical context......and he at least speaks to his audience in a compassionate way, rather than just reactionary dearth........watch him on The Coffee Klatch Saturdays YouTube and on Substack..........
To William N. Fordes: Thank you , Thank you, Thank you. I needed to hear you say that. I NEED to hold on to hope. It fuels me to fight and resist. We will not go quietly into that good night. THANK you for so eloquently saying it!
Mr. Fordes I have stated, in other venues, the same things you just did about the difficulty of comparing Weimar Deutschland with present day Amerika. It is true we have not suffered the most destructive and violent military defeat the Germans did. It is also true that our inflation has not made the price of a loaf of bread one million dollars. We are not suffering under a Versailles peace agreement. This German example is really unique historically, when you think of it. We are not exactly a match.
However, we have lost wars of ten years of VietNam, "Shock and Awe" in Iraq, twenty years of Afghanistan, been stymied for 72 years in Korea. And our proxy, Ukraine, is losing against the Russians, as we feed the immoral, insane Zionists the weapons they use to slaughter the Palestinians. The unstable economic gyration of the Trumpsters is about to plunge us into another great depression. And the military might be set loose in our second largest city. Nevertheless, the Amerikan public is making sounds of resistance. Who can predict the future?
Ukraine is not losing the war against Russia. I'm not even sure mainstream US news organizations are making that case, but those to whom it really matters (and who therefore get more detailed news on the topic), on or near the borders of Ukraine and Russia and throughout Europe, report a different quite view than you summarize in that one word "losing."
Ms. Campbell, Thank you for not denying the other comments I made in my response to Mr. Fordes. If you imagine that a country, Ukraine, with less than 37 million population and rapidly shrinking, occupying 233,000 square miles, a country whose economy has been cratered; can defeat the largest country on the globe, with a population of 144 million, and an economy which is expanding faster than the U.S. economy, a country with virtually unlimited natural resources; then I suggest you might want to look at the comments of John Mearsheimer, of the Univ. of Chicago, America's leading political scientist and Jeffry Sachs, of Columbia Univ. who is one of the world's leading economists. I prefer their views.
If Ukraine fought Russia with no outside help, of course the Ukrainians would lose. But they are fighting with US assistance, and the assistance of the EU. And, yes, the imbecilic administrations of Obama and Biden did FAR TOO LITTLE to help, and Trump, well, he is insane, so who know what he will do. But if the US and EU assistance continues, I am of the opinion that Zelensky will outlast Vlad the Imploder.
Mr. Fordes I agree with your other comments! I've heard what Professor Mearsheimer has to say (who also, shortly before Putin invaded Ukraine, claimed in a lecture at U Chicago that he never would and that people were foolish to fear it). But I have also kept tabs on the news in Europe, where I sometimes live, and it is far more detailed--it's more consequential for them than for Mearsheimer or us--and show Russia losing. You should take a look.
To conflate all Israelis and Jews with the political movement zionism is ignorant and just another way to justify and spread anti-semitism. SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!
Hamas, Gaza's elected government, slaughtered 1200+ Israelis - NOT zionists. They raped, murdered, and then desecrated the bodies - gleefully streaming it to the world. This is Israel's 9/11 - even worse by percentage of population killed. They took hundreds of hostages and still won’t release them, the living and the dead, which would put an end to all the killing. Do you know what “from the river to the sea” means?
Hamas purposely uses its own people, the Gazans - adults and children, as human shields. Purposely building command centers and arms depots under civilian schools and hospitals. Purposely! Adults and children!
Of course, all war is immoral. But unfortunately, humans are tribal by nature. And even more so by nurture in some cultures.
Thanks for Chris's astute historic analysis of the public/ruler degeneracy into idiotic madness Mike. The historical parallels with the present lunacy is especially apparent with our Fuhrer here in the USA in imitation of Putin's oligarchy, the Zion Nazi genocide, Orban's Hungary, the Ayatollah's Iran.... You name it, dumbed down masses worshiping a ruler who took everyone else's rights away piece by loaded piece just to stay in power till everything collapses from the weight of their own bullshit.
...And unlike the other falls of empires we have documentation of every insult to our democracy via phone videos and social media that can round up the masses to protest with a touch of a button. The government does not have the cover and comfort of secrecy to do their dirty work
Alas, it cuts both ways. The Trump “administration” is in such control of the media that it can work to solidify his power, as opposed to undermining it. I pray I am wrong…..
ORGANIZE OVER THE COMMON GOOD DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM. JUST READ THE PLATFORM BULLET POINTS. ORGANIZE!!!!
ALLEGIANCE TO OUR PLATFORM AND THE CANDIDATE THAT PROMOTES OUR PLATFORM!
GOOGLE YOUR STATES DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM TO READ IT!
MAKE AMERICA GRATEFUL AGAIN!
The Democratic Platform IS the Preamble to Our Constitution
The Preamble
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Thanks, Mike, for sharing Chris Hedges' post. I also subscribe to his Substack. What a powerful and just voice! I encourage everyone to subscribe to his Substack and support real journalism.
There should always be hope as pessimism leads to defeat. But the hard part lies with our fellow citizens. It seems we are among the enemy and they can be family, friends, and every day associates. There's a bunch of them, as I will include the apathetic who have no interest in their country. That's a tough nut to break.
Uncomfortably Numb Or Never Succumb? WHICH WILL YOU CHOOSE?
Not a day goes by where the news doesn't disgust me. What's worse is that no matter how insane or cruel, it no longer comes as a surprise. The once unbelievable has become the norm.
We’ve come to expect dishonesty and corruption from our politicians, as well as the implementation of underhanded policies behind the scenes. America has a history of meddling in foreign countries’ politics, orchestrating coups and supporting dictators, if these actions supported U.S. dominance. Under Trump and his criminal Republican Regime, the same tactics have come home to roost and subvert the rights of American citizens.
The fact that human beings are suffering and dying is downplayed constantly by this administration’s greed and power lust. The hypocrisy of claiming to fight antisemitism and supporting the Israeli genocide of Palestinians, while Neo Nazis frequent Mara Lago is stunning. The abandonment of Ukraine as it fights for survival against Russian hostilities is despicable, and obviously motivated by Trump’s and the majority of his Cabinet Comrades’ fealty to Putin.
The DOGE desecration of departments like USAID, will continue to erode America’s reputation and the soft power gained through humanitarian efforts worldwide. Instead, this regime’s callous lack of concern for the survival of others in foreign nations will foster a whole new generation of “Death to America,” chanting terrorists.
The across the board dismantling of programs customarily lauded as mandatory and compassionate social safety nets at home, will further condemn the less fortunate among us to suffering, hunger and even death. The denial of climate change and the erasure of environmental protections, will lead to the exploitation of treasured conservation land and national parks and rob our children of their rightful inheritance.
Trump’s racist persecution and purge of immigrants, while serving to pacify the most extreme MAGA members of his base, is decimating families in the most cruel and humiliating ways. Deporting those the Regime considers sub human is not only a tragedy for those hard working people simply trying for a better future, it will also prove disastorous to farmers and other employers who rely heavily on the labours of those immigrants.
The deployment of 2,000 National Guard to quell protests in Los Angeles is a disgrace. Trump is salivating at the opportunity to demonstrate his control over the U.S. military. Pete Hegseth, the white nationalist head of the Department of Defence has already indicated that the Marines are ready to join in with the subversion of legal protests.
Trump’s Border Czar Tom Homan is happily using ICE and wrongfully pardoned J6 insurrections, to fill domestic GEO Corp concentration camps. Homan served as an adviser to GEO, before being appointed Border Czar by Trump. GEO was a major contributor to a PAC supporting Trump’s reelection. It’s worth noting that Attorney General Pam Bondi served as a lobbyist for Geo as well.
In mere months, Republicans have accomplished what they have desired for decades. They have erased human rights and empathy for others from their political vocabulary. They intend to dismantle the remnants of democracy completely, if their Big Bullshit Bill passes in the Senate.
Everyone knew everything despicable about Trump, and yet here we are, in autocratic hell. It's hard to believe that some of our species has not evolved beyond barbaric tribalism. We must stand against the rampant corruption. We must rescue, preserve and cherish the freedoms we are entitled to, before the soulless megalomaniacs destroy all that is priceless and honourable.
Thanks for reading john king! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
Thanks for Chris's astute historic analysis of the public/ruler degeneracy into idiotic madness Mike. The historical parallels with the present lunacy is especially apparent with our Fuhrer here in the USA in imitation of Putin's oligarchy, the Zion Nazi genocide, Orban's Hungary, the Ayatollah's Iran.... You name it, dumbed down masses worshiping a ruler who took everyone else's rights away piece by loaded piece just to stay in power till everything collapses from the weight of their own bullshit.
WOW! Thanks for the verification. I thought it was just me who saw the similarities in the decline of other "great" civilizations. Can we change history and make the outcome different than what it has been in the past under these conditions? I'm doubtful, however, "hope springs eternal."
Unfortunately, a similar conclusion hit me in the week leading up to the inauguration. Not that it was a great insight on my part. I’ve been following Peter Turchin for years. But up until then, I’d been focused on what I could control - preparing for the handmaiden of climate change, extreme weather. What changed was my realization of the imminent extremes I needed to have plans in place for. Sucks to be a realist.
OK I’m only going to say this once because I feel like we’re missing the forest from the trees here. If you’re depressed that’s on you, if you’re checked out, like, didn’t vote that’s on you. If you want to make a video go for it. If you want to slide underneath your couch and suck your thumb do that. Personally I live in an area where there’s a pretty good walk score so I can easily get to at least two marches on flag day or no kings day if you prefer. And while I honor the Historical perspective, today is today. I have no idea if I’m even going to be alive tomorrow much less next week so I’m simply going to do what I do. I wish the same for you.
And yet we go on. We must live and we must stand before what has been and perhaps live in something more nurturing. As the adage proves; Power corrupts. I am thankful for all of the immigrants that have come in the past 30 years. They have caught wind of what democracy is and is not. They chose democracy.
I think that I will remain hopeful that yes, our country is crumbling as we speak, but I will keep fighting for us to rise up out of the ashes as the America we always claimed to be. We can do this! But first, we have to drown the rats! And the rats will fight hard to stay alive!
Dear Michael, your opening questions are very thought provoking. Let me respond as best as I can. First, how did this happen? My answer, we opened the gates and let the Trojan Horse inside. The foot soldiers within, were well armed and well positioned. They systematically took over the two houses of congress, the judiciary and the remaining institutions. Now, our social safety nets are shredded, our support systems including education and learning institutions are damaged, our way of life and the rule of law is being challenged every day. Where do we go from here? Let us organize and isolate the foot soldiers. Defeat them at their game. The upside-down power pyramid consists of the republican party, the deep pockets who are the Rober barons of modern era, The Heritage Foundation, The Federalist Society, ALEC, Citizens United, and the Right-Wing media network. For a more Indepth reading, I have written a book with fifteen chapters of hard-hitting facts. "Trojan Horse - Democracy Hijacked". It will be released, June 20, 2025. I recommend your reading.
Fascinating that you can omit the entire feckless Democratic leadership over the years and into the present day iteration! Any chance that your day job is political consultant? I wouldn’t be surprised, like the Ron Klains and Jen O’Malley Dillons who sold us down the the Trump river by promoting Methusalah Joe Biden!
We call on the newly elected, US, Pope Leo XIV to do whatever it takes to save Gaza and stop the bombing, and end the starvation. Let him go to Gaza and stand with the suffering people who are being massacred by Israel and the Western posers. Is there anything more important in today's world than this? Perhaps, he can join the flotilla, or the march to Gaza.
Empires rot from within long before the final circus arrives. Now we watch the clowns dance atop the rubble, calling it greatness. But here’s the secret: beneath every collapsing edifice, new roots are already growing. They don’t make headlines—but they will make history. Eyes open. Hands ready.
Virgin Monk Boy
I'd like to think this is true. I suspect collapse is inevitable and preventing it isn't possible. Something else needs to take root in the place of what we're accustomed to. Something radical.
I fear we're on the cusp of another pandemic that will make covid pale in comparison. Now that our prevention infrastructure is gone, and treatments are "optional," our challenges may be overwhelming.
We may end up digging ourselves out of the rubble, wondering what kind of society we can build from scratch.
If you really want to stop the corruption, go to my Substack and read the two page introduction letter. It contains everything you need to take your country back--if you can get your fellow citizens to read it.
Thanks for Chris's astute historic analysis of the public/ruler degeneracy into idiotic madness Mike. The historical parallels with the present lunacy is especially apparent with our Fuhrer here in the USA in imitation of Putin's oligarchy, the Zion Nazi genocide, Orban's Hungary, the Ayatollah's Iran.... You name it, dumbed down masses worshiping a ruler who took everyone else's rights away piece by loaded piece just to stay in power till everything collapses from the weight of their own bullshit.
As it was in 1700, America in 2025 is controlled by a King enabled by a fraudulent, unjust legal system with enforcement of the law to privilege those in power and the super wealthy, a King supported by the super wealthy who give part of their wealth to the King, and a King who is also supported by a hateful group of dependent, enslaved idiots and white male supremacists driven by ego, greed, racism, misogyny, and ignorance. There is a sliver of hope that the King can be stopped. How? Democrats in control of states such as California need to recognize there is an insurrection underway by Trump and Republicans, enact a new law, and enforce the law in their states.
Read my post. https://williamlmiller.substack.com/p/how-to-stop-trump-republicans-and
THIS IS IT !
If anyone has any authority to act they better get started 🙏
Kali dances and sows seeds.
I subscribe to you and Chris Hedges. You are often a positive counterpoint to Hedges. Not so today. I think we really may be past the point of redemption. I hope this is not so, but there are many examples, if we look with open minds and eyes, that show us our democracy is a myth, and has been for quite a while. We shall see. We shall fight and do what we can, and we will not surrender quietly. Thank you for leading us.
You quote: “In ‘Hitler and the Germans,’ the political philosopher Eric Voegelin dismisses the idea that Hitler — gifted in oratory and political opportunism, but poorly educated and vulgar — mesmerized and seduced the German people. The Germans, he writes, supported Hitler and the ‘grotesque, marginal figures,’ surrounding him because he embodied the pathologies of a diseased society, one beset by economic collapse and hopelessness. Voegelin defines stupidity as a ‘loss of reality.’” But this misses the point, or misunderstands the moment: in Nazi Germany, many joyously embraced Der Fuhrer, some out of fear of the past, some out of anxiety about the future. Others joined in because of their base, foul antisemitism. Yet others saw an opportunity to profit. And, most importantly, VERY FEW objected. The Germans who protested were not many. There was never a mass demonstration opposing Hitler and Nazism, as there was in The Woman’s March during Trump 1.0. And there have been many large — though not as large — as that march of late. And the marchers will grow as Trump seizes on the military to do his disgusting, illegal, unconstitutional, immoral dirty work. There has been and will be no capitulation. In my age bracket — 60-mid 70s — I have spoken with people who have evinced a willingness to die for our Republic. No shit. DIE. These are educated, intelligent, moderate Dems, and some ultra-progressive Dems, and even some right-wing conservatives, who are not going to go gentle into the dark night of Fascism under a fat, bald, stupid, ignorant, evil, egomaniacal rapist. Further, the condition of the Weimar Republic in, say, 1923 et seq. is NOT the condition Americans face now. Inflation is or was higher than many were comfortable with, but not the staggering days of inflation the Germans faced, where the Govt had to print new bills in the MILLION mark range so people could have cash marked sufficiently to buy bread. We do not labor under the burden of the Treaty of Versailles, which bled the German nation. We have not experienced a major military loss and the commensurate damage to the collective, national psyche. I reject the defeatism. I denounce the notion that we will simply walk from our democracy to fascism, like sheep. The conditions, the people, the moment is vastly different from Germany, or Rome, or Athens.
Thank you! I agree!
My father and uncles ALL fought fascism, in Europe, in the East, in the Army, Navy and Marines. Four years of brutal war. The least I personally can do to honor my late father and uncles is fight the Fascist Orange Buffoon.
I am of the same vintage....us Baby Boomers are a different callibre to those in our histories who crumbled under despotism and greed. Having read Howard Zinn's Peoples' History of America, I strongly have faith that thoughtful humans (not the ones who have tragically been dumbed down by rampant commercialism) have the courage and resourcefulness to resist despotism...even die, as so many brave souls have before us to bring about change.
I do expect it will take TIME and reak a terrible toll in lives and landscapes; not just human. The Earth too has it's own way of "cutting our overpopulated species down in size" and I foresee other major pandemic/natural disaster(s) as a contributor before suggested. It is then, that the bullies and cowards desert the spotlight, just as Trump and Boris did in the UK. The masses lose trust and their Ivory towers turn to dust....
Humans have this unique ability to ADAPT and endure (is that why we are blessed with this extra sense..of humour?). We have damaged this incredibly wondrous planet, and treated fellow lifeforms with unspeakable cruelty and neglect.....yet ecological awareness and positive action has never been more powerful and effective. The "Greta Thumberg generation and followers" will inherit the Earth ( not Mars for eons yet!).
Let's NOT be depressed by the doom-mongers. History does NOT have to be repeated endlessly!
Some comic wrote or spoke the line: don’t piss off old people, they will retaliate knowing that a life-sentence is not that long! LOL
Now, many of us have lived good, long lives. If my Father and Uncles could risk their lives in Germany and Japan and the Philippines, can we do less?
What you say here makes more sense than the few sentences claiming an absolutely same circumstance to the German State as the Nazis took control..........Of course the situation is very bad.......but,
Robert Reich has a much more thoughtful discussion on our current state of affairs, and he has decades of personal experience to draw from, as well as the education to decipher the historical context......and he at least speaks to his audience in a compassionate way, rather than just reactionary dearth........watch him on The Coffee Klatch Saturdays YouTube and on Substack..........
He is one of my idols: intelligent, experienced, thoughtful….everything American is un-becoming.
To William N. Fordes: Thank you , Thank you, Thank you. I needed to hear you say that. I NEED to hold on to hope. It fuels me to fight and resist. We will not go quietly into that good night. THANK you for so eloquently saying it!
Mr. Fordes I have stated, in other venues, the same things you just did about the difficulty of comparing Weimar Deutschland with present day Amerika. It is true we have not suffered the most destructive and violent military defeat the Germans did. It is also true that our inflation has not made the price of a loaf of bread one million dollars. We are not suffering under a Versailles peace agreement. This German example is really unique historically, when you think of it. We are not exactly a match.
However, we have lost wars of ten years of VietNam, "Shock and Awe" in Iraq, twenty years of Afghanistan, been stymied for 72 years in Korea. And our proxy, Ukraine, is losing against the Russians, as we feed the immoral, insane Zionists the weapons they use to slaughter the Palestinians. The unstable economic gyration of the Trumpsters is about to plunge us into another great depression. And the military might be set loose in our second largest city. Nevertheless, the Amerikan public is making sounds of resistance. Who can predict the future?
Ukraine is not losing the war against Russia. I'm not even sure mainstream US news organizations are making that case, but those to whom it really matters (and who therefore get more detailed news on the topic), on or near the borders of Ukraine and Russia and throughout Europe, report a different quite view than you summarize in that one word "losing."
Ms. Campbell, Thank you for not denying the other comments I made in my response to Mr. Fordes. If you imagine that a country, Ukraine, with less than 37 million population and rapidly shrinking, occupying 233,000 square miles, a country whose economy has been cratered; can defeat the largest country on the globe, with a population of 144 million, and an economy which is expanding faster than the U.S. economy, a country with virtually unlimited natural resources; then I suggest you might want to look at the comments of John Mearsheimer, of the Univ. of Chicago, America's leading political scientist and Jeffry Sachs, of Columbia Univ. who is one of the world's leading economists. I prefer their views.
If Ukraine fought Russia with no outside help, of course the Ukrainians would lose. But they are fighting with US assistance, and the assistance of the EU. And, yes, the imbecilic administrations of Obama and Biden did FAR TOO LITTLE to help, and Trump, well, he is insane, so who know what he will do. But if the US and EU assistance continues, I am of the opinion that Zelensky will outlast Vlad the Imploder.
Mr. Fordes I agree with your other comments! I've heard what Professor Mearsheimer has to say (who also, shortly before Putin invaded Ukraine, claimed in a lecture at U Chicago that he never would and that people were foolish to fear it). But I have also kept tabs on the news in Europe, where I sometimes live, and it is far more detailed--it's more consequential for them than for Mearsheimer or us--and show Russia losing. You should take a look.
Oops! I now see (on my computer, where it's easier than on my tiny phone) that I was responding to Mr. Dobbertin, not Mr. Fordes.
How dare you! How anti-Semitic of you!
To conflate all Israelis and Jews with the political movement zionism is ignorant and just another way to justify and spread anti-semitism. SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!
Hamas, Gaza's elected government, slaughtered 1200+ Israelis - NOT zionists. They raped, murdered, and then desecrated the bodies - gleefully streaming it to the world. This is Israel's 9/11 - even worse by percentage of population killed. They took hundreds of hostages and still won’t release them, the living and the dead, which would put an end to all the killing. Do you know what “from the river to the sea” means?
Hamas purposely uses its own people, the Gazans - adults and children, as human shields. Purposely building command centers and arms depots under civilian schools and hospitals. Purposely! Adults and children!
Of course, all war is immoral. But unfortunately, humans are tribal by nature. And even more so by nurture in some cultures.
Thanks for Chris's astute historic analysis of the public/ruler degeneracy into idiotic madness Mike. The historical parallels with the present lunacy is especially apparent with our Fuhrer here in the USA in imitation of Putin's oligarchy, the Zion Nazi genocide, Orban's Hungary, the Ayatollah's Iran.... You name it, dumbed down masses worshiping a ruler who took everyone else's rights away piece by loaded piece just to stay in power till everything collapses from the weight of their own bullshit.
It’s 1933 in AmeriKKKa
...And unlike the other falls of empires we have documentation of every insult to our democracy via phone videos and social media that can round up the masses to protest with a touch of a button. The government does not have the cover and comfort of secrecy to do their dirty work
Alas, it cuts both ways. The Trump “administration” is in such control of the media that it can work to solidify his power, as opposed to undermining it. I pray I am wrong…..
Win the Senate and House, Impeach and Prosecute
ORGANIZE ORGANIZE ORGANIZE!!!!!
ORGANIZE OVER THE COMMON GOOD DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM. JUST READ THE PLATFORM BULLET POINTS. ORGANIZE!!!!
ALLEGIANCE TO OUR PLATFORM AND THE CANDIDATE THAT PROMOTES OUR PLATFORM!
GOOGLE YOUR STATES DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM TO READ IT!
MAKE AMERICA GRATEFUL AGAIN!
The Democratic Platform IS the Preamble to Our Constitution
The Preamble
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Organizing will teach us to trust each other to be able to carry on after the collapse. This is crucial.
Before "winning" the Senate and the House please consider spreading the word to every single organization fighting for Democracy:
The Key of winning this has been presented so clearly by Mr. William M Miller in his Substack
https://open.substack.com/pub/williamlmiller/p/how-to-stop-trump-republicans-and?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1pypb7
Thanks, Mike, for sharing Chris Hedges' post. I also subscribe to his Substack. What a powerful and just voice! I encourage everyone to subscribe to his Substack and support real journalism.
There should always be hope as pessimism leads to defeat. But the hard part lies with our fellow citizens. It seems we are among the enemy and they can be family, friends, and every day associates. There's a bunch of them, as I will include the apathetic who have no interest in their country. That's a tough nut to break.
An old Turkish proverb has it that "He who lives on hope, dies of starvation".
Hope without action to accompany it, is surrender.
Here is the way of fighting back !
https://open.substack.com/pub/williamlmiller/p/how-to-stop-trump-republicans-and?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1pypb7
I just read Mr. Miller. That is certainly fighting back! Thanks for the source.
Truth
And so and so and so it goes and goes and goes and goes and goes.
Duhhhhh…
Why do we pay Congressmen and Senators and those ones with the robes and hammers?
We have a felon in the White House.
We have masked GOPstapo agents grabbing and kidnapping people.
We have a list of grievances almost as long as the one in the Declaration of Independence … remember that anyone?
Duhhh….
Remember Hitler?
Anyone
I sure as fuck do.
Pardon my Frak...
I do have hope.
Pope Leo... You are a man of the World, a man of Peace.
You are also an American.
Let us hear your roar.
I hope America roars too.
Katy Perry may have already written our new Post-Trumpolini National Anthem...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwL1cohnHNE
I'll shut up now.
thanks for sharing the Katy Perry song - we all need to learn it and sing it at every protest, starting with "No Kings" this Saturday
Uncomfortably Numb Or Never Succumb? WHICH WILL YOU CHOOSE?
Not a day goes by where the news doesn't disgust me. What's worse is that no matter how insane or cruel, it no longer comes as a surprise. The once unbelievable has become the norm.
We’ve come to expect dishonesty and corruption from our politicians, as well as the implementation of underhanded policies behind the scenes. America has a history of meddling in foreign countries’ politics, orchestrating coups and supporting dictators, if these actions supported U.S. dominance. Under Trump and his criminal Republican Regime, the same tactics have come home to roost and subvert the rights of American citizens.
The fact that human beings are suffering and dying is downplayed constantly by this administration’s greed and power lust. The hypocrisy of claiming to fight antisemitism and supporting the Israeli genocide of Palestinians, while Neo Nazis frequent Mara Lago is stunning. The abandonment of Ukraine as it fights for survival against Russian hostilities is despicable, and obviously motivated by Trump’s and the majority of his Cabinet Comrades’ fealty to Putin.
The DOGE desecration of departments like USAID, will continue to erode America’s reputation and the soft power gained through humanitarian efforts worldwide. Instead, this regime’s callous lack of concern for the survival of others in foreign nations will foster a whole new generation of “Death to America,” chanting terrorists.
The across the board dismantling of programs customarily lauded as mandatory and compassionate social safety nets at home, will further condemn the less fortunate among us to suffering, hunger and even death. The denial of climate change and the erasure of environmental protections, will lead to the exploitation of treasured conservation land and national parks and rob our children of their rightful inheritance.
Trump’s racist persecution and purge of immigrants, while serving to pacify the most extreme MAGA members of his base, is decimating families in the most cruel and humiliating ways. Deporting those the Regime considers sub human is not only a tragedy for those hard working people simply trying for a better future, it will also prove disastorous to farmers and other employers who rely heavily on the labours of those immigrants.
The deployment of 2,000 National Guard to quell protests in Los Angeles is a disgrace. Trump is salivating at the opportunity to demonstrate his control over the U.S. military. Pete Hegseth, the white nationalist head of the Department of Defence has already indicated that the Marines are ready to join in with the subversion of legal protests.
Trump’s Border Czar Tom Homan is happily using ICE and wrongfully pardoned J6 insurrections, to fill domestic GEO Corp concentration camps. Homan served as an adviser to GEO, before being appointed Border Czar by Trump. GEO was a major contributor to a PAC supporting Trump’s reelection. It’s worth noting that Attorney General Pam Bondi served as a lobbyist for Geo as well.
In mere months, Republicans have accomplished what they have desired for decades. They have erased human rights and empathy for others from their political vocabulary. They intend to dismantle the remnants of democracy completely, if their Big Bullshit Bill passes in the Senate.
Everyone knew everything despicable about Trump, and yet here we are, in autocratic hell. It's hard to believe that some of our species has not evolved beyond barbaric tribalism. We must stand against the rampant corruption. We must rescue, preserve and cherish the freedoms we are entitled to, before the soulless megalomaniacs destroy all that is priceless and honourable.
Thanks for reading john king! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
Thanks for Chris's astute historic analysis of the public/ruler degeneracy into idiotic madness Mike. The historical parallels with the present lunacy is especially apparent with our Fuhrer here in the USA in imitation of Putin's oligarchy, the Zion Nazi genocide, Orban's Hungary, the Ayatollah's Iran.... You name it, dumbed down masses worshiping a ruler who took everyone else's rights away piece by loaded piece just to stay in power till everything collapses from the weight of their own bullshit.
How about this plan ?
It comes from someone who has knowledge and seems like he knows what he's talking about!
Mr. William M Miller post:
https://open.substack.com/pub/williamlmiller/p/how-to-stop-trump-republicans-and?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1pypb7
WOW! Thanks for the verification. I thought it was just me who saw the similarities in the decline of other "great" civilizations. Can we change history and make the outcome different than what it has been in the past under these conditions? I'm doubtful, however, "hope springs eternal."
Unfortunately, a similar conclusion hit me in the week leading up to the inauguration. Not that it was a great insight on my part. I’ve been following Peter Turchin for years. But up until then, I’d been focused on what I could control - preparing for the handmaiden of climate change, extreme weather. What changed was my realization of the imminent extremes I needed to have plans in place for. Sucks to be a realist.
OK I’m only going to say this once because I feel like we’re missing the forest from the trees here. If you’re depressed that’s on you, if you’re checked out, like, didn’t vote that’s on you. If you want to make a video go for it. If you want to slide underneath your couch and suck your thumb do that. Personally I live in an area where there’s a pretty good walk score so I can easily get to at least two marches on flag day or no kings day if you prefer. And while I honor the Historical perspective, today is today. I have no idea if I’m even going to be alive tomorrow much less next week so I’m simply going to do what I do. I wish the same for you.
And yet we go on. We must live and we must stand before what has been and perhaps live in something more nurturing. As the adage proves; Power corrupts. I am thankful for all of the immigrants that have come in the past 30 years. They have caught wind of what democracy is and is not. They chose democracy.
I think that I will remain hopeful that yes, our country is crumbling as we speak, but I will keep fighting for us to rise up out of the ashes as the America we always claimed to be. We can do this! But first, we have to drown the rats! And the rats will fight hard to stay alive!
Here's one way of fighting back (coming from someone who has the knowledge and expertise to advise ):
https://open.substack.com/pub/williamlmiller/p/how-to-stop-trump-republicans-and?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1pypb7
Dear Michael, your opening questions are very thought provoking. Let me respond as best as I can. First, how did this happen? My answer, we opened the gates and let the Trojan Horse inside. The foot soldiers within, were well armed and well positioned. They systematically took over the two houses of congress, the judiciary and the remaining institutions. Now, our social safety nets are shredded, our support systems including education and learning institutions are damaged, our way of life and the rule of law is being challenged every day. Where do we go from here? Let us organize and isolate the foot soldiers. Defeat them at their game. The upside-down power pyramid consists of the republican party, the deep pockets who are the Rober barons of modern era, The Heritage Foundation, The Federalist Society, ALEC, Citizens United, and the Right-Wing media network. For a more Indepth reading, I have written a book with fifteen chapters of hard-hitting facts. "Trojan Horse - Democracy Hijacked". It will be released, June 20, 2025. I recommend your reading.
Fascinating that you can omit the entire feckless Democratic leadership over the years and into the present day iteration! Any chance that your day job is political consultant? I wouldn’t be surprised, like the Ron Klains and Jen O’Malley Dillons who sold us down the the Trump river by promoting Methusalah Joe Biden!
Not that simple
This to me seems like the way to fight back - this post coming from someone who has the knowledge and expertise to advise :
https://open.substack.com/pub/williamlmiller/p/how-to-stop-trump-republicans-and?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1pypb7
Thank you for the Hedges piece. "Send lawyers, guns, and money. The shit has hit the fan."
We call on the newly elected, US, Pope Leo XIV to do whatever it takes to save Gaza and stop the bombing, and end the starvation. Let him go to Gaza and stand with the suffering people who are being massacred by Israel and the Western posers. Is there anything more important in today's world than this? Perhaps, he can join the flotilla, or the march to Gaza.
https://chng.it/gkvBfY44rq
Please sign the petition and share widely.
I thought I couldn't feel worse about our political landscape, I was Wrong....
There's always Hope:
https://open.substack.com/pub/williamlmiller/p/how-to-stop-trump-republicans-and?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1pypb7
Alas, Hedges has nailed it! So now what do we actually do?!?!?