Corruption doesn't have to be a defining property of ALL politicians. If we make it so they can't become "career politicians" as the Founders originally planned them to be, then they can't sit in office for years and years and making money from their insider stock trading tips on the war machine. They serve their term, and then they're out of there. And laws could be passed like the 28th Amendment to end legalized bribery through lobbyist dollars. We could also pass laws preventing them from becoming lobbyists or working for corporations that they might be tempted to "help" while in office.
What a magnificent letter! What generosity, what height!
I doubt very much, however, that from such noble sentiments you can lower yourself to consider it possible to make friends with persons who are apparently uneducated, indifferent to the sufferings of others, at least, and cruel and diabolical at worst.
I am sure that this kind of characters is not part of your readership. Your appeals and attempts are noble, however, and reassure us before the debauchery and depravity that has taken hold of the world. Thank you for this testimony of a humanity that resists the grip of evil!
Thank you for your kind words. I feel like we've got to make some effort to bring these "lost souls" back to the path of compassion and conscience and give them a chance to stop supporting genocide. If they can't bring themselves to do so, then at least we can say we gave them a chance.
Very generous attitude, which in my opinion the international community is far from deserving because the scale of crimes is within everyone’s reach but.... "Eyes wide shut!" Right?…
I'm beginning to wonder if I will live to see an end to this genocide or any of the others currently happening. The oligarchy is dragging them on and on probably until we all forget what's what and become like your "friend" who just goes along with the crowd. I'd hate it if I became a Winston Smith and betrayed all I believed in.
We are living in Orwell's 1984. And it does seem to be lasting forever without a sign of a Revolution brewing. Perhaps one will manifest itself by the end of the year? Whatever happens, we must help each other stay sane and true to our conviction to end this and all genocides.
I’m pretty socially isolated right now so I haven’t gotten into exchanges with people about the pain I feel over this genocide. Family crises have also caused me to not entirely focus on what’s happening in the world. In some ways I’ve hoped not to see extended family members because I’d be tempted to ask them why they are so happy when we have a shameless genocide, nuclear Armageddon on the horizon, and a planet in environmental decline. Your articles are so powerful that I’m sure you’ve helped people see situations from another angle. Write on!
Thanks for your kind words, Chris. I know what you mean about socially isolating. I'm "socializing" mainly with other anti-genocide protesters at protests, marches and the like. I think that's similar to a lot of folks here online at Substack.
So glad you're meeting so many different types of people out on the protest corner, Dx! I know I've learned a lot about the history of Palestine and what it's like to be a Muslim-American in 2024 since last October. it was an education I needed. This is good socialization, IMO.
My former friends and most of my family are so out of it (or care so little) that they haven't even noticed I've taken myself out of all social gatherings, no longer go on Facebook, no longer text people I used to text, I'm off the grid socially. Part of the reason for this separation is that I'm afraid to know what they really stand for and then won't like those few people I still liked anymore. Thank God for my anonymous Substack friends, who are all anti-genocide!
Agreed! We tend to fall into our own circle of like-minds here on Substack. I don't ask others who have unfriended me on other social media platforms why they've done so, but I'm beginning to wonder if Musk and Zuckerberg don't do those "unfollows
on our friends' behalf because of their censorship algorithms. We may never know.
Excellent, sir. You were far more polite than I could have been. What better way evidence that the “experiement” has failed and “Americans” a tribe of amoral savages?
You are so correct--voting has been sold to the American public as a "game." When will we grow up and see that our actions have consequences? I hope it's not too late this time out. Follow Deb's advice and always vote your conscience. You'll never be disappointed in yourself that way and you could be doing the world a great good as well.
I am actually Canadian but my son moved to the States and married an American girl. Neither of them seem willing to discuss the US election options with me.
"We gotta ignore the genocide and vote Team D because abortion!" sounds like "if the rape is inevitable, why not try and gets as much enjoyment as you can out of the experience?"
This is an oversimplification, but - concerning laws, the executive has only those powers delegated by the law itself.
For instance, the SEC, as an executive agency, can enact regulations and issue orders implementing the provisions of the 1933 Securities Act, because the Act itself says so.
Ew... I know what you mean! But you and I both know that either Team D or Team R doesn't give a rat's arse about the victims of rape or the mass murders of innocents--it's all about the big bucks to be made in perpetual bloodshed. This "election" isn't about "politics" anymore, IMO. It's about our society's "soul". Do we really want to sell it to the "devil" just to make the rich even richer?
A powerful piece. Too many supporters of the so-called 'Democratic' Party seem to think it's just another business-as-usual Presidential election when the reality is their party's government in office funding and arming genocide is a deal-breaker. It really makes me uncomfortable being around these people.
Me too. I don't know what to think or feel about old friends who are seemingly "morally blind" to the horrors of genocide. How can we trust anyone who is okay with the mass murder of innocent people? Who are okay with the murder of one of their own in the instance of Ezgi's death? This goes beyond "politics as usual". We're talking about the very soul of the Western culture here. Our countries deserve to collapse and go away forever if we think that "genocide is good for business."
What Mark says--we don't technically live in a "democracy" or even a "representative democracy" according to the 2014 Princeton Study. We live in an oligarchy. The richest of the rich pretty much call all the shots, which means war and genocide will continue since it's good for their business. It's time for all voters from all Western countries to take a stand and only support anti-war/anti-genocide peace candidates and to continue marching in the streets until we realize real and lasting change. To vote against your own conscience is to give in to the hate and greed of the status quo.
Of course the reality is we don't have a democracy. Voting harder will not save us.
Caitlin Johnstone makes that point in her commentary today: "Democrats Don't Care If You Vote For Them And Don't Care If They Lose"
As she notes in the last paragraph: "If real change comes to the United States, it won’t be because of how any Americans chose to vote or not vote in any of their fake elections. There are no solutions to these problems in electoral politics. Other solutions are needed."
OMG, this is a powerful piece and echoes my experience. So many' nice' and even 'liberal' Americans are perfectly content with our funding and arming of the US/Israel genocide in Gaza. It's like living in a mad house ... the killer is definitely in the house.
The graphics are great and I encourage people to use them in their own posts. The Orwell quote sums up America today.
Thanks for your kind words. Almost a year in to this horrific genocide, and I think most of us are running into friends (and relatives) who are disappointing us when it comes to fighting against the bloodshed in Gaza. I don't know how to deal with some of these "genocide is only a political issue" folks anymore, so I wrote a letter to them trying to convince them of the moral and social ramifications that they may have forgotten... Let's hope it works. Please feel free to share this post and report back with any good news that may result from it.
You're welcome! Eugene Debs really said it all, didn't he? We forget the wisdom of our elders, particularly in the US. We shouldn't. They have much to teach us.
strong words , that need to be said ❤️🩹 We need to be accountable for our words and actions, as they have the power to condemn or save us as a species.
Words have power. We often forget that, especially when we're self-centered and trying to keep our "head down and blend in with the crowd." Blending in with the "genocide-is-okay" crowd is NOT okay, and we shouldn't be afraid to use our words to convince them to listen to their conscience (if they have one).
You are amazing in your courage to speak out . Keep going as this is a wake up call for the survival of the Palestinians, humanity and who ever is the next target. Most people think this is a conflict about religion, but it’s a colonialism land grab for greed.
Western Politicians of all Spectra have everything to do with this Murder by the Zionists !
Corruption is the Defining Property of all the Politicians !
We just have to Choose our Favourite Corruption and Find the Guy or the Gal who closely exhibits our Favourite Corruption !
Corruption doesn't have to be a defining property of ALL politicians. If we make it so they can't become "career politicians" as the Founders originally planned them to be, then they can't sit in office for years and years and making money from their insider stock trading tips on the war machine. They serve their term, and then they're out of there. And laws could be passed like the 28th Amendment to end legalized bribery through lobbyist dollars. We could also pass laws preventing them from becoming lobbyists or working for corporations that they might be tempted to "help" while in office.
What a magnificent letter! What generosity, what height!
I doubt very much, however, that from such noble sentiments you can lower yourself to consider it possible to make friends with persons who are apparently uneducated, indifferent to the sufferings of others, at least, and cruel and diabolical at worst.
I am sure that this kind of characters is not part of your readership. Your appeals and attempts are noble, however, and reassure us before the debauchery and depravity that has taken hold of the world. Thank you for this testimony of a humanity that resists the grip of evil!
Thank you for your kind words. I feel like we've got to make some effort to bring these "lost souls" back to the path of compassion and conscience and give them a chance to stop supporting genocide. If they can't bring themselves to do so, then at least we can say we gave them a chance.
Very generous attitude, which in my opinion the international community is far from deserving because the scale of crimes is within everyone’s reach but.... "Eyes wide shut!" Right?…
I'm beginning to wonder if I will live to see an end to this genocide or any of the others currently happening. The oligarchy is dragging them on and on probably until we all forget what's what and become like your "friend" who just goes along with the crowd. I'd hate it if I became a Winston Smith and betrayed all I believed in.
So many of us are experiencing this even with close friends and family Celine. Thanks for expressing this so well!!
We are living in Orwell's 1984. And it does seem to be lasting forever without a sign of a Revolution brewing. Perhaps one will manifest itself by the end of the year? Whatever happens, we must help each other stay sane and true to our conviction to end this and all genocides.
Lots here in the comments as well!!!
Yes, there is. We have lots to teach each other.
I’m pretty socially isolated right now so I haven’t gotten into exchanges with people about the pain I feel over this genocide. Family crises have also caused me to not entirely focus on what’s happening in the world. In some ways I’ve hoped not to see extended family members because I’d be tempted to ask them why they are so happy when we have a shameless genocide, nuclear Armageddon on the horizon, and a planet in environmental decline. Your articles are so powerful that I’m sure you’ve helped people see situations from another angle. Write on!
Thanks for your kind words, Chris. I know what you mean about socially isolating. I'm "socializing" mainly with other anti-genocide protesters at protests, marches and the like. I think that's similar to a lot of folks here online at Substack.
Me too. I'm a recluse by nature but I'm out there on the streets in solidarity whenever and wherever I can. ❤️🕊️,Dx
P.S. and I love the sense of community and humanity and meeting people from every walk of life
So glad you're meeting so many different types of people out on the protest corner, Dx! I know I've learned a lot about the history of Palestine and what it's like to be a Muslim-American in 2024 since last October. it was an education I needed. This is good socialization, IMO.
My former friends and most of my family are so out of it (or care so little) that they haven't even noticed I've taken myself out of all social gatherings, no longer go on Facebook, no longer text people I used to text, I'm off the grid socially. Part of the reason for this separation is that I'm afraid to know what they really stand for and then won't like those few people I still liked anymore. Thank God for my anonymous Substack friends, who are all anti-genocide!
Agreed! We tend to fall into our own circle of like-minds here on Substack. I don't ask others who have unfriended me on other social media platforms why they've done so, but I'm beginning to wonder if Musk and Zuckerberg don't do those "unfollows
on our friends' behalf because of their censorship algorithms. We may never know.
Excellent, sir. You were far more polite than I could have been. What better way evidence that the “experiement” has failed and “Americans” a tribe of amoral savages?
Better to be polite and keep their attention than to fall into name-calling and lose it, I say.
Jill Stein is such an obvious choice for POTUS. They took a chance with Trump in 2016 then Biden in 2020. Americans need to stop playing the game.
You are so correct--voting has been sold to the American public as a "game." When will we grow up and see that our actions have consequences? I hope it's not too late this time out. Follow Deb's advice and always vote your conscience. You'll never be disappointed in yourself that way and you could be doing the world a great good as well.
I am actually Canadian but my son moved to the States and married an American girl. Neither of them seem willing to discuss the US election options with me.
"We gotta ignore the genocide and vote Team D because abortion!" sounds like "if the rape is inevitable, why not try and gets as much enjoyment as you can out of the experience?"
Or we gotta vote team D because Kamala will take our guns. I bet Trump lovers will be in for a big surprise when he declares martial law
With all due respect, Trump is so impotent, he couldn't get a Team R congress to repeal Obamacare.
True. He operates entirely on executive orders.
Trump can't repeal a law by executive order.
That’s good to know. I was shocked at how much he was able to do that way. There seemed to be this secret God-power that Presidents had.
This is an oversimplification, but - concerning laws, the executive has only those powers delegated by the law itself.
For instance, the SEC, as an executive agency, can enact regulations and issue orders implementing the provisions of the 1933 Securities Act, because the Act itself says so.
Ew... I know what you mean! But you and I both know that either Team D or Team R doesn't give a rat's arse about the victims of rape or the mass murders of innocents--it's all about the big bucks to be made in perpetual bloodshed. This "election" isn't about "politics" anymore, IMO. It's about our society's "soul". Do we really want to sell it to the "devil" just to make the rich even richer?
I'm not the one making excuses for Team D.
Heaven forbid! You are a noble cat. Bowtie the Tuxedo Kitten salutes you!
A powerful piece. Too many supporters of the so-called 'Democratic' Party seem to think it's just another business-as-usual Presidential election when the reality is their party's government in office funding and arming genocide is a deal-breaker. It really makes me uncomfortable being around these people.
Me too. I don't know what to think or feel about old friends who are seemingly "morally blind" to the horrors of genocide. How can we trust anyone who is okay with the mass murder of innocent people? Who are okay with the murder of one of their own in the instance of Ezgi's death? This goes beyond "politics as usual". We're talking about the very soul of the Western culture here. Our countries deserve to collapse and go away forever if we think that "genocide is good for business."
What's the point of having a democracy if voters are afraid to vote their conscience?
What's the point in believing in human rights if you vote for candidates against human rights.
One of my major questions all along Claire. If you listen to Hedges Stein interview you’ll feel fully confident with this motive!!
The point of democracy is to proivde the rulers cover to do what they want. The technical term for this is a "beard".
What Mark says--we don't technically live in a "democracy" or even a "representative democracy" according to the 2014 Princeton Study. We live in an oligarchy. The richest of the rich pretty much call all the shots, which means war and genocide will continue since it's good for their business. It's time for all voters from all Western countries to take a stand and only support anti-war/anti-genocide peace candidates and to continue marching in the streets until we realize real and lasting change. To vote against your own conscience is to give in to the hate and greed of the status quo.
Of course the reality is we don't have a democracy. Voting harder will not save us.
Caitlin Johnstone makes that point in her commentary today: "Democrats Don't Care If You Vote For Them And Don't Care If They Lose"
As she notes in the last paragraph: "If real change comes to the United States, it won’t be because of how any Americans chose to vote or not vote in any of their fake elections. There are no solutions to these problems in electoral politics. Other solutions are needed."
https://www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/democrats-dont-care-if-you-vote-for?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=82124&post_id=148723460&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=2iji4s&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
OMG, this is a powerful piece and echoes my experience. So many' nice' and even 'liberal' Americans are perfectly content with our funding and arming of the US/Israel genocide in Gaza. It's like living in a mad house ... the killer is definitely in the house.
The graphics are great and I encourage people to use them in their own posts. The Orwell quote sums up America today.
Repost this folks, it needs to get out there.
Thanks for your kind words. Almost a year in to this horrific genocide, and I think most of us are running into friends (and relatives) who are disappointing us when it comes to fighting against the bloodshed in Gaza. I don't know how to deal with some of these "genocide is only a political issue" folks anymore, so I wrote a letter to them trying to convince them of the moral and social ramifications that they may have forgotten... Let's hope it works. Please feel free to share this post and report back with any good news that may result from it.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And this is on point: "I’d rather vote for what I want and not get it, than vote for what I don’t want and get it."
You're welcome! Eugene Debs really said it all, didn't he? We forget the wisdom of our elders, particularly in the US. We shouldn't. They have much to teach us.
strong words , that need to be said ❤️🩹 We need to be accountable for our words and actions, as they have the power to condemn or save us as a species.
Words have power. We often forget that, especially when we're self-centered and trying to keep our "head down and blend in with the crowd." Blending in with the "genocide-is-okay" crowd is NOT okay, and we shouldn't be afraid to use our words to convince them to listen to their conscience (if they have one).
You are amazing in your courage to speak out . Keep going as this is a wake up call for the survival of the Palestinians, humanity and who ever is the next target. Most people think this is a conflict about religion, but it’s a colonialism land grab for greed.