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Alan Peterson's avatar

I think you're right, Susana J. Sturgis. As you know, there was a long period of time before Reagan (from FDR to Carter) when Democratic Party economics gave working people sustained prosperity, union support, and fairer taxes for everyone including the wealthy. But even during that time Conservatives were busy developing neoliberal or "trickle down" economics which became dominant from Reagan to the Trump presidencies and, imho, is the cause of all our current problems.

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Abby Lynn Morley's avatar

It is a clown show. It’s embarrassing and very dangerous. It’s also still astonishing that people think Trump is smart and there is good outcome. Trump is dumb as dirt and is only in for the headlines and adulation. He also has dementia.

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James McCarty Yeager's avatar

I worked this one out under Richard M Nixon: "It's not a free country--it's for sale."

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Bruce Landay's avatar

Reading the news each day is truly horrifying! We are such poor students of history that we ignore cautionary tales from both history and around the world. Trump and the MAGA Republicans will continue to destroy democracy and flout the law. Each day we lose more of our institutions and what made this a great country. I have never been sadder to be an American than today. I also have no plans to travel abroad as Americans already weren't welcome in many countries and today even our Canadian neighbors want nothing to do with us. This is even sadder for me as my mother was Canadian.

We need to reach out to our elected officials and let them know how horrified we are. Our representatives in Congress need to become reacquainted with their spines and stand up to Trump who isn't acting like a president but instead a petulant dictator.

My fear is that things will get much worse and when the backlash comes, it will be violent and ugly.

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Mark Breza's avatar

Not when 'The Free Press' of Bari Weiss charges money for a subscription.

Free Speech should not cost money !

Why is upper level knowledge locked away in costly colleges and expensive foundations.

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Thor Hogan's avatar

And things look even worse if you have an expanded vision of freedom, encompassing notions of positive liberty and economic security. Thanks for the thoughts!

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Ellen Khalifa's avatar

Those in charge have never believed in the democracy of pulling others up. They want "I have mine, get yours if you can but don't expect me to help." They have always believed so. The difference was money bought the election and is still buying. It's important we retain our ability to vote and control all elections, local and all others. We also need to do as you are, talk truth to power and all others. Hang in there. You're doing good work. Thank you.

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Deb Pierce's avatar

And this has all happened simply because so many people couldn't -- or wouldn't -- vote for the Black lady.

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Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

This goes back at least to the Reagan administration with its tax cutting and union busting and the rise of the billionaires. Give credit where credit is due to the Citizens United decision (2010): notice how much money was spent on the 2024 presidential campaign (and in previous campaigns). There's nothing simple about it.

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Marc Panaye's avatar

Another thought.

Strange people, those maga maniacs who are now in charge.

Proud to have nuked the "Japs" into surrender but ashamed that the pilot of the Hiroshima B-29 nicknamed the plane after his mother's surname "Enola Gay".

Oh but all of a sudden I get it..... Enola Gay is a woman and the "recovering" drunk Hegseth can't have that!

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Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

Not to forget that the word "gay" triggers these people . . .

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Marc Panaye's avatar

Mr. Rothkopf, "is it a free country" you ask.

Over the weekend I have been chewing on the following:

"What an exciting journey it has been for the United States of America!!

From "Mad King George III" to roughly 250 years later "Angry and Mad King Don I".

From king to king via a republic."

Is it a free country?

It was but no longer is.

Now if a person wants to "be free" he/she/it has to parrot the talking points of the 2nd Angry and Mad king.

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Pam Sibley's avatar

Only sarcastically

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janinsanfran's avatar

How much do we want this to be a free country? What are we willing to do, to endure, to make it so? Who are we?

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Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

Excellent questions. It's become crystal clear since the 1960s that many white people don't want non-white peoples to have the same freedoms they do -- and they've been willing to sacrifice their own freedoms in order to deny freedom to others. (This goes back at least to the antebellum South.) Closely related to this is the notion that freedom requires the possession of guns, lots of guns.

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Nancy Rea's avatar

This is America now! Heartbreaking to realize what has happened and fear what else they can do!

We have to be unified and stand together to Resist!

Musk cannot be allowed to continue his demolition!

He must be denied any further take over of things ! ie Post Office ,NASA,SS .FAA etc)

How will that happen? He must be brought to task!

What can be done?

Do most people realize this ! Sad probably not!

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judyth Watson-Remy's avatar

Bravo David.💔

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Thérèse Ralston's avatar

Thank you for such a comprehensive a d honest article. It was a pleasure to read it, and I'm dreading the consequence that are coming like a wreaking ball for US citizens.

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Michael Solis's avatar

You are correct David. The criminals in charge are evil. They wrap themselves in lies of their care of the U.S. They despise everything about America. They want this country to become a totalitarian state. Only a few dictate how all others live. In other words, Nazi Germany! But you, I, & millions have something to say to them. It isn’t going to happen. We are not going down like that. They are getting close to a line. If they cross that line, they will regret it. The British did it long ago. They found out. These assholes will too, if they dare!!!

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