Thanks for calling out what should be obvious to all. This should serve as the foundation and moral tone of the Democratic platform. As always, well-written!
I've been reading the big beautiful bill and the reporting requirements for SNAP and medicare benefits will create a bureaucratic nightmare every six months. The requirements, conditions, exemptions, etc, go on for pages. Nobody will be able to understand or administer them. It is intentionally complex. And one thing is certain. Trump has never read it (nor most legislators for that matter), he cannot even read a daily security briefing. This bill has been in the works by the Heritage Foundation for many years. No one could have come up with this gigantic morass of legislative double-talk in a matter of months. It basically represents the take over of government by a privileged elite of ultra-nationalists to promote their specialized agenda, which doesn't include the middle class, poor, immigrant, sick.
Another brilliant framing of our current condition. Yes, naming it matters. As you go on to say... "Because what’s framed as unfortunate, or inevitable, or the natural limits of government, is in fact a calculated political project—one that sorts lives into those worth protecting and those left to manage their own decline. Once life becomes conditional on profitability, solidarity becomes resistance." Thank you.
I wish everyone in America would read this powerful and nakedly blunt truth in this essay. The words mince no subtlety, but get right to the exact point. Cruelty is the point. Touche, James, for another powerhouse essay.
A few months ago, I drove through downtown L.A. to attend a Latino play. My GPS took me through miles of filthy, disgusting homeless encampments. It truly was a third world scenario. I fear that as insurance and other benefits disappear, and people are thrown out of their homes and nursing homes, as the cost of food becomes out of reach for many, and as our air and water become increasingly polluted, much of our country will become like that dystopian, deplorable slice of L.A. that I experienced.
This is dripping in hysterical lunacy. The most vulnerable were most affected by the pandemic response, the financial debt bombs, and the managed de-industrialization policies of the left. And of course, that started decades ago. The current strategy assumes that the only way out of this mess is to grow our way out. You may disagree with that approach, but attributing it to sinister motivation is based on mind-reading and psychological projection.
I've never read an author that organizes and describes in a way that informed in economics and the political forces and their intent. always knew that our blood, sweat and tears in our own lives is being sucked up by the wealthy who despise our "denerative characteristics" compared to theirs.
the author has put nuanced understanding to my instincts which I could not describe as this gentleman has described. I am grateful to Mr. Greenberg and his feed. Wonder is Mr. Greenberg has written a recent book on "How to get our democratic country back." Ha! Maybe some navy blue (not light blue) caps that have the words in white "MAKE AMERICA DEMOCRATIC AGAIN." so the acronym is MADA or MAD as ALL HELL.
All the republicans in congress and in state legislatures know this. I believe it's why they are silent and complicit in whatever trump and his cronies do because they want to be the ones to survive. And keep their wealth. To hell with everyone else.
Florida Congressman, Alan Grayson, in 2009 during a debate on US healthcare reform, claimed that the Republican healthcare plan at the time relied on people just not getting sick.
Grayson said Republicans understand that a health care plan based on not getting sick "isn't always going to work, so they have a backup plan in case you do get sick."
“If you get sick in America, the Republican health care plan is this: Die quickly,"
The clear implication was that Republicans would not be spending money on healthcare and you could assist in this medical frugality by dying quickly without running up a big, burdensome bill.
Republicans were outraged and called for Grayson to be censured. The hub-bub died off quickly, IMO because Republicans did not choose to dwell on why Grayson was so off-base.
Although Republicans promised a forthcoming healthcare plan on numerous occasions (only “weeks away” in Trump’s first term.) nothing emerged. However, they concentrated their efforts on undermining or eliminating “ObamaCare” with no alternative option.
This appears to be nonsensical; however, it plays directly to the motives of their core constituency. The wealthy can provide for their own health care and they don’t want to be burdened by providing for yours too. Please die quickly. (also, quietly would be best)
Alan Grayson was not so off-base. It would appear that in plain language he precisely identified the Republican position. The MAGA Republican is only less apologetic, more morally corrupt, with no social conscience or need felt to disguise their brutal intent. It's out there for all to see in the Big Ugly Bill.
The truth is ugly. Your excellent writing makes it clear why we need to not just look away. Thank you.
Thanks for calling out what should be obvious to all. This should serve as the foundation and moral tone of the Democratic platform. As always, well-written!
I've been reading the big beautiful bill and the reporting requirements for SNAP and medicare benefits will create a bureaucratic nightmare every six months. The requirements, conditions, exemptions, etc, go on for pages. Nobody will be able to understand or administer them. It is intentionally complex. And one thing is certain. Trump has never read it (nor most legislators for that matter), he cannot even read a daily security briefing. This bill has been in the works by the Heritage Foundation for many years. No one could have come up with this gigantic morass of legislative double-talk in a matter of months. It basically represents the take over of government by a privileged elite of ultra-nationalists to promote their specialized agenda, which doesn't include the middle class, poor, immigrant, sick.
Another brilliant framing of our current condition. Yes, naming it matters. As you go on to say... "Because what’s framed as unfortunate, or inevitable, or the natural limits of government, is in fact a calculated political project—one that sorts lives into those worth protecting and those left to manage their own decline. Once life becomes conditional on profitability, solidarity becomes resistance." Thank you.
I wish everyone in America would read this powerful and nakedly blunt truth in this essay. The words mince no subtlety, but get right to the exact point. Cruelty is the point. Touche, James, for another powerhouse essay.
A few months ago, I drove through downtown L.A. to attend a Latino play. My GPS took me through miles of filthy, disgusting homeless encampments. It truly was a third world scenario. I fear that as insurance and other benefits disappear, and people are thrown out of their homes and nursing homes, as the cost of food becomes out of reach for many, and as our air and water become increasingly polluted, much of our country will become like that dystopian, deplorable slice of L.A. that I experienced.
This is dripping in hysterical lunacy. The most vulnerable were most affected by the pandemic response, the financial debt bombs, and the managed de-industrialization policies of the left. And of course, that started decades ago. The current strategy assumes that the only way out of this mess is to grow our way out. You may disagree with that approach, but attributing it to sinister motivation is based on mind-reading and psychological projection.
Still waiting on Trunts plan to replace the ACA. 2016 ish he was supposed to have it out.
So I'm not crazy. Ever since this regime took over I've been asking myself, if they were trying to kill us all what would they be doing differently?
I've never read an author that organizes and describes in a way that informed in economics and the political forces and their intent. always knew that our blood, sweat and tears in our own lives is being sucked up by the wealthy who despise our "denerative characteristics" compared to theirs.
the author has put nuanced understanding to my instincts which I could not describe as this gentleman has described. I am grateful to Mr. Greenberg and his feed. Wonder is Mr. Greenberg has written a recent book on "How to get our democratic country back." Ha! Maybe some navy blue (not light blue) caps that have the words in white "MAKE AMERICA DEMOCRATIC AGAIN." so the acronym is MADA or MAD as ALL HELL.
All the republicans in congress and in state legislatures know this. I believe it's why they are silent and complicit in whatever trump and his cronies do because they want to be the ones to survive. And keep their wealth. To hell with everyone else.
Florida Congressman, Alan Grayson, in 2009 during a debate on US healthcare reform, claimed that the Republican healthcare plan at the time relied on people just not getting sick.
Grayson said Republicans understand that a health care plan based on not getting sick "isn't always going to work, so they have a backup plan in case you do get sick."
“If you get sick in America, the Republican health care plan is this: Die quickly,"
The clear implication was that Republicans would not be spending money on healthcare and you could assist in this medical frugality by dying quickly without running up a big, burdensome bill.
Republicans were outraged and called for Grayson to be censured. The hub-bub died off quickly, IMO because Republicans did not choose to dwell on why Grayson was so off-base.
Although Republicans promised a forthcoming healthcare plan on numerous occasions (only “weeks away” in Trump’s first term.) nothing emerged. However, they concentrated their efforts on undermining or eliminating “ObamaCare” with no alternative option.
This appears to be nonsensical; however, it plays directly to the motives of their core constituency. The wealthy can provide for their own health care and they don’t want to be burdened by providing for yours too. Please die quickly. (also, quietly would be best)
Alan Grayson was not so off-base. It would appear that in plain language he precisely identified the Republican position. The MAGA Republican is only less apologetic, more morally corrupt, with no social conscience or need felt to disguise their brutal intent. It's out there for all to see in the Big Ugly Bill.