Frankly, it is my three cats, my spouse and my family that keep me sane. And, I feel red-hot anger every day. But, that doesn't make me want to kill other people ("wishing" someone would die isn't the same), it makes me want to DO something to protect others. I would kill someone to protect the people I love. Other than that, I really don't condone violence and I hate that violence is celebrated here. Always has been (just pick a movie to watch). Violence is glamorized. Makes me ill.
It’s all indicative of the US accepting an immoral person into our politics since 2016. He’s pulled our country down, made our country no more honorable than a tv reality show. He’s sowed hate & corruption, making us a very angry population, with divisions constantly growing. Ironic to see his past ‘loyals’ NOW complaining. Half our population knew he was a wicked, spoiled, immoral & nasty man back in 2016. Guess they aren’t as smart as they claim to be. But they just HAD to balk & complain about everything democrat-that was their pact. Now look at what that’s gotten us!
FOX News started with the division and anger and fear decades before Trump hit the scene, his followers knew his baggage and didn’t vote despite it, but because of it.
I see your points and understand that nobody wants real violence like we see happening in Iran and other countries. I am all for a Constutional Convention, but how does that even happen. Who attends, and how are there solutions baked in, or will it be a free for all with everyone wanting their moment? If it were to happen it would have to be highly organized and meet cerain objectives.. We are walking a very thin line in America.
Lots to think about here - thank you! One question about that survey: Was the one-third *approving* of political violence, or just afraid that it’s inevitable?
Well-written, Miles, and a bit scary. If I am in a group of four strangers, at least one is willing to hurt or kill me for my beliefs? That's just crazy, and is emblematic of our "zero sum" and "if you disagree with me, you're the enemy" thinking. Me, I prefer my goats. They get along with everybody, and will even eat the weeds.
I think you’re right about a constitutional convention; the present system is not working for the majority of the people. Hence the frustration leading to anger and thoughts of violence. Seems to me the ‘prime minister system’ is more fair; the Party you vote in actually gets things done. Here the minority can block the agenda completely. And of course the Electoral College is a dinosaur that should be extinct.
Are the rules of the Geneva Convention ever enforced? When are our (US) laws enforced? ie; no conflict of interest, no bribes, no monopolies.
The lack of enforcement of so many of our existing laws is both infuriating and demeaning. Especially when laws are strongly enforced for the non Epstein class. The same feeling of hopelessness happens when blatant lies directly affect outcomes. Ie Mitch McConnell telling Obama he would never replace a Supreme Court judge at the end of a presidents term. Those kinds of things lead to feelings of impotence. That leads to fury or just plain giving up. Thank goodness we have alternatives to those two feelings.
Well, my indoor/outdoor cats did often indulge in killing, but they never once brought a human being to my door. You know, cat is in cathartic. At any rate, I think when people look around and see all of the civil norms broken down by people in power, the insults, the barbs, the vitriol, and the proud pronouncement of an intention to commit war crimes, as well as vivid images of war crimes being perpetrated, desensitization takes hold. If the "leaders" and the "adults" are saying and doing these things, why not the rest of us? I think a great deal of the anger comes from the recognition that if any of us committed a tiny portion of the things most of these people are doing, consequences would be swift and inescapable. The added recognition that many of these individuals celebrate this "otherness," and this protected status makes things worse. I truly believe we will not make a dent in this situation until a critical mass of our population strikes for multiple days at a time. I think helplessness breeds anger, and that builds. We cannot vote these people out until a certain time. There are people doing truly ghastly things who cannot be touched except through tedious processes over which we have no control and that our representatives refuse to use or feel powerless to bother using. The only nonviolent power we have that can shock the elite out of their cocoons is economic leverage. That is all they understand.
The issue stems from the popular thought begun in the 80s that we all deserve what we want and should just follow our dreams. Somewhere along the way people focused on themselves rather than what was good for the community. If the other side needs to die in order for me to acheive my dream, then that’s ok. Garrett Hardin’s seminal paper “Tragedy of the Commons”addresses what happens when people act only in their self interest. It’s time for us to go back and read this paper. While Hardin’s concerns were the environment and over-population, the concept applies to many other social issues as well.
I highly recommend getting a cat. It will serve you much better than killing someone. You are even likely to enjoy it! My cats are soothing to my soul which is in constant turmoil with traitor Trump’s constant outrages.
During the past few decades it has been my privilege to share my home with one to four cats, and to support similar communities of feral (thus not home-able) cats outside -- providing them with food, winter shelters, and heated water dishes. Based on this experience, I am ready to bet that there is virtually NO overlap between the third of Americans who appreciate (and are appreciated by) cats, and the third who believe it may be justifiable and necessary to kill their political adversaries. It might even be possible that prolonged exposure to cats could curb the murderous proclivities of the third of the population afflicted therewith.
Again, Miles you nail it right on the head! Folks, where is the love thy neighbor as thyself among the conservatives, and especially Christian nationalists, but also with the liberal? Everyone seems to be a cultural tribalist through there social media platforms. So much for crowd-sourcing There's too much hatefulness and judgemental errors. I'm going to become a paid member, Miles. I'm so sick of hatefulness.
I am confused by all of my Bible holding friends who advocate for bad and think Trump can do NO WRONG. Have they read that Bible lately? I think that is the biggest group that baffles me.
False doctrine is not new in the world. Do some research on the pastors that lead the churches many attend. The flag takes precedence in the pulpit not Jesus. Who knew that a large swarth of the church population would usher in such evil as we see today, perpetrated by rich, indoctrinated white supremacist around a plan to assure that persons of color would never be president of the United States again! It's just that simple!
History has shown that white slave owners used the old testament to justify their abuses on Africans who became slaves in this country. The southern slave agenda was fashioned in churches when the congregations convened. The Civil War did not stop the hatefulness ingrained in the culture.
Fast forward to the GOP agenda during the Reagan area--the Moral Majority. They found a voting block to stir up over abortion. On and on. There really is nothing new here accept that the organizers found their stride in pushing a narcissist to the forefront of our politics. Damn democracy and voting rights and equality and the American people as a whole.
Ultimately the people [his voters] are to blame for DJT being in office. They've known who he is from the beginning, just ask Bannon. The excuses were cover. I have faith that the scales are falling from MAGA eyes in ways we could not imagine. I believe it's God's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes. Let's pray we have time before Trump destroys us.
Sandra thanks for the reply. You are so correct. I guess I have always blamed it on party politics and not on the church community. I think that is probably due to all the kind and gentle folks I knew personally. I guess they were hiding their public persona. I have just noticed it now because they are so open about it. They cherish Trump who is like the anti Christ. Poster boy for breaking every Commandment at least once. Vulgar and trashy.
I hope we correct it before their is absolutely no hope. I have just never seen so much hate. Yes , during Civil Rights and Viet Nam but this is so magnified there is no hiding it.
I am an old veteran (RVN), and I belong to several closed veteran groups. The outrage among many vets is palpable; tempers are running short. The younger guys, the War on Terror vets, talk of strapping up. And they know how. It scares me because it plays into Trump's hands. Glad to hear you talk about it. As for cats, I'm a dog guy.
Thanks Miles: You got me in such deep thoughts I may not recover for a while. I suppose 30% of the population have never felt like they belong, The left out ones. When is see the troublesome Trump and flexy pecs Pete along with the other trumpets I get in a rage, grab my cat and look for a ballot box.
ALOHA. From the COCONUT WIRELESS.... "The most concerning trend of the last year has been the politicization of the Department of Justice and the weaponization of the criminal laws against Donald Trump’s political opponents.
Last week, I warned you that Todd Blanche — Trump’s former personal defense lawyer – is now acting attorney general. During his very first press conference in his new role, Blanche made it clear who his client is and that he believed it was his duty to pursue Trump’s personal vendettas.
Blanche justified the firing of career prosecutors for political reasons, saying, “If you were a prosecutor, and you were trying to prosecute your boss, you have ethical duties as a lawyer that I think prevent you from continuing to work in that environment.” He also propped up the DOJ’s new fraud division, summing up its goals with one simple sentence: “He [Trump] wants justice.”.
. TRUMP will go after our voting rights since he is losing on all fronts... Protect your self and "DONTGETPURGED.COM". .. Look for the Green check mark... If you get a red check mark, you are purged from voting so, you need to get it fixed. If you want to help at the polls, Poll watcher/poll watcher...."EAC.GOV/HELP-AMERICA-VOTE"..... ...... "Yes, he can issue executive orders, and the Department of Justice will do his bidding. But courts will strike down those orders, and we have proven we can defeat the DOJ. Trump's true power — what he relies upon more than anything else — is convincing us that the fight is already lost, that resistance is futile, and that his army of election deniers is too powerful to overcome. If there is one message I try to deliver — in my writing, in the media, and to individual voters — it is this: Refuse to give him that victory. That matters because Trump's strategy depends on the illusion of inevitability. He needs his opponents to believe that fighting back is pointless, that institutions are fully under his control, and that anyone who stands up to him will be crushed. Donald Trump is a president who treats the Constitution as an obstacle rather than a cornerstone of American democracy. He demands complete loyalty from his political allies — whether they are the governor of Florida or the secretary of state of Idaho. His aim is to demonize and intimidate his opponents. When it comes to elections, he wants to set the rules and control the results."... D.D.ORG He is a chicken SH*T PEDO PIG KING T.A.C.O.. Take care to you all. Defiance with strength, proudly, loudly and with ALOHA
Frankly, it is my three cats, my spouse and my family that keep me sane. And, I feel red-hot anger every day. But, that doesn't make me want to kill other people ("wishing" someone would die isn't the same), it makes me want to DO something to protect others. I would kill someone to protect the people I love. Other than that, I really don't condone violence and I hate that violence is celebrated here. Always has been (just pick a movie to watch). Violence is glamorized. Makes me ill.
It’s all indicative of the US accepting an immoral person into our politics since 2016. He’s pulled our country down, made our country no more honorable than a tv reality show. He’s sowed hate & corruption, making us a very angry population, with divisions constantly growing. Ironic to see his past ‘loyals’ NOW complaining. Half our population knew he was a wicked, spoiled, immoral & nasty man back in 2016. Guess they aren’t as smart as they claim to be. But they just HAD to balk & complain about everything democrat-that was their pact. Now look at what that’s gotten us!
FOX News started with the division and anger and fear decades before Trump hit the scene, his followers knew his baggage and didn’t vote despite it, but because of it.
I see your points and understand that nobody wants real violence like we see happening in Iran and other countries. I am all for a Constutional Convention, but how does that even happen. Who attends, and how are there solutions baked in, or will it be a free for all with everyone wanting their moment? If it were to happen it would have to be highly organized and meet cerain objectives.. We are walking a very thin line in America.
Lots to think about here - thank you! One question about that survey: Was the one-third *approving* of political violence, or just afraid that it’s inevitable?
Well-written, Miles, and a bit scary. If I am in a group of four strangers, at least one is willing to hurt or kill me for my beliefs? That's just crazy, and is emblematic of our "zero sum" and "if you disagree with me, you're the enemy" thinking. Me, I prefer my goats. They get along with everybody, and will even eat the weeds.
I think you’re right about a constitutional convention; the present system is not working for the majority of the people. Hence the frustration leading to anger and thoughts of violence. Seems to me the ‘prime minister system’ is more fair; the Party you vote in actually gets things done. Here the minority can block the agenda completely. And of course the Electoral College is a dinosaur that should be extinct.
Are the rules of the Geneva Convention ever enforced? When are our (US) laws enforced? ie; no conflict of interest, no bribes, no monopolies.
The lack of enforcement of so many of our existing laws is both infuriating and demeaning. Especially when laws are strongly enforced for the non Epstein class. The same feeling of hopelessness happens when blatant lies directly affect outcomes. Ie Mitch McConnell telling Obama he would never replace a Supreme Court judge at the end of a presidents term. Those kinds of things lead to feelings of impotence. That leads to fury or just plain giving up. Thank goodness we have alternatives to those two feelings.
Well, my indoor/outdoor cats did often indulge in killing, but they never once brought a human being to my door. You know, cat is in cathartic. At any rate, I think when people look around and see all of the civil norms broken down by people in power, the insults, the barbs, the vitriol, and the proud pronouncement of an intention to commit war crimes, as well as vivid images of war crimes being perpetrated, desensitization takes hold. If the "leaders" and the "adults" are saying and doing these things, why not the rest of us? I think a great deal of the anger comes from the recognition that if any of us committed a tiny portion of the things most of these people are doing, consequences would be swift and inescapable. The added recognition that many of these individuals celebrate this "otherness," and this protected status makes things worse. I truly believe we will not make a dent in this situation until a critical mass of our population strikes for multiple days at a time. I think helplessness breeds anger, and that builds. We cannot vote these people out until a certain time. There are people doing truly ghastly things who cannot be touched except through tedious processes over which we have no control and that our representatives refuse to use or feel powerless to bother using. The only nonviolent power we have that can shock the elite out of their cocoons is economic leverage. That is all they understand.
The issue stems from the popular thought begun in the 80s that we all deserve what we want and should just follow our dreams. Somewhere along the way people focused on themselves rather than what was good for the community. If the other side needs to die in order for me to acheive my dream, then that’s ok. Garrett Hardin’s seminal paper “Tragedy of the Commons”addresses what happens when people act only in their self interest. It’s time for us to go back and read this paper. While Hardin’s concerns were the environment and over-population, the concept applies to many other social issues as well.
I highly recommend getting a cat. It will serve you much better than killing someone. You are even likely to enjoy it! My cats are soothing to my soul which is in constant turmoil with traitor Trump’s constant outrages.
Likewise my dog.
During the past few decades it has been my privilege to share my home with one to four cats, and to support similar communities of feral (thus not home-able) cats outside -- providing them with food, winter shelters, and heated water dishes. Based on this experience, I am ready to bet that there is virtually NO overlap between the third of Americans who appreciate (and are appreciated by) cats, and the third who believe it may be justifiable and necessary to kill their political adversaries. It might even be possible that prolonged exposure to cats could curb the murderous proclivities of the third of the population afflicted therewith.
Again, Miles you nail it right on the head! Folks, where is the love thy neighbor as thyself among the conservatives, and especially Christian nationalists, but also with the liberal? Everyone seems to be a cultural tribalist through there social media platforms. So much for crowd-sourcing There's too much hatefulness and judgemental errors. I'm going to become a paid member, Miles. I'm so sick of hatefulness.
I am confused by all of my Bible holding friends who advocate for bad and think Trump can do NO WRONG. Have they read that Bible lately? I think that is the biggest group that baffles me.
False doctrine is not new in the world. Do some research on the pastors that lead the churches many attend. The flag takes precedence in the pulpit not Jesus. Who knew that a large swarth of the church population would usher in such evil as we see today, perpetrated by rich, indoctrinated white supremacist around a plan to assure that persons of color would never be president of the United States again! It's just that simple!
History has shown that white slave owners used the old testament to justify their abuses on Africans who became slaves in this country. The southern slave agenda was fashioned in churches when the congregations convened. The Civil War did not stop the hatefulness ingrained in the culture.
Fast forward to the GOP agenda during the Reagan area--the Moral Majority. They found a voting block to stir up over abortion. On and on. There really is nothing new here accept that the organizers found their stride in pushing a narcissist to the forefront of our politics. Damn democracy and voting rights and equality and the American people as a whole.
Ultimately the people [his voters] are to blame for DJT being in office. They've known who he is from the beginning, just ask Bannon. The excuses were cover. I have faith that the scales are falling from MAGA eyes in ways we could not imagine. I believe it's God's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes. Let's pray we have time before Trump destroys us.
Sandra thanks for the reply. You are so correct. I guess I have always blamed it on party politics and not on the church community. I think that is probably due to all the kind and gentle folks I knew personally. I guess they were hiding their public persona. I have just noticed it now because they are so open about it. They cherish Trump who is like the anti Christ. Poster boy for breaking every Commandment at least once. Vulgar and trashy.
I hope we correct it before their is absolutely no hope. I have just never seen so much hate. Yes , during Civil Rights and Viet Nam but this is so magnified there is no hiding it.
Thanks
I heard it in some churches in the 90s.
I am an old veteran (RVN), and I belong to several closed veteran groups. The outrage among many vets is palpable; tempers are running short. The younger guys, the War on Terror vets, talk of strapping up. And they know how. It scares me because it plays into Trump's hands. Glad to hear you talk about it. As for cats, I'm a dog guy.
Great piece Miles and I’m glad you present a solution we should embrace.
Thanks Miles: You got me in such deep thoughts I may not recover for a while. I suppose 30% of the population have never felt like they belong, The left out ones. When is see the troublesome Trump and flexy pecs Pete along with the other trumpets I get in a rage, grab my cat and look for a ballot box.
ALOHA. From the COCONUT WIRELESS.... "The most concerning trend of the last year has been the politicization of the Department of Justice and the weaponization of the criminal laws against Donald Trump’s political opponents.
Last week, I warned you that Todd Blanche — Trump’s former personal defense lawyer – is now acting attorney general. During his very first press conference in his new role, Blanche made it clear who his client is and that he believed it was his duty to pursue Trump’s personal vendettas.
Blanche justified the firing of career prosecutors for political reasons, saying, “If you were a prosecutor, and you were trying to prosecute your boss, you have ethical duties as a lawyer that I think prevent you from continuing to work in that environment.” He also propped up the DOJ’s new fraud division, summing up its goals with one simple sentence: “He [Trump] wants justice.”.
. TRUMP will go after our voting rights since he is losing on all fronts... Protect your self and "DONTGETPURGED.COM". .. Look for the Green check mark... If you get a red check mark, you are purged from voting so, you need to get it fixed. If you want to help at the polls, Poll watcher/poll watcher...."EAC.GOV/HELP-AMERICA-VOTE"..... ...... "Yes, he can issue executive orders, and the Department of Justice will do his bidding. But courts will strike down those orders, and we have proven we can defeat the DOJ. Trump's true power — what he relies upon more than anything else — is convincing us that the fight is already lost, that resistance is futile, and that his army of election deniers is too powerful to overcome. If there is one message I try to deliver — in my writing, in the media, and to individual voters — it is this: Refuse to give him that victory. That matters because Trump's strategy depends on the illusion of inevitability. He needs his opponents to believe that fighting back is pointless, that institutions are fully under his control, and that anyone who stands up to him will be crushed. Donald Trump is a president who treats the Constitution as an obstacle rather than a cornerstone of American democracy. He demands complete loyalty from his political allies — whether they are the governor of Florida or the secretary of state of Idaho. His aim is to demonize and intimidate his opponents. When it comes to elections, he wants to set the rules and control the results."... D.D.ORG He is a chicken SH*T PEDO PIG KING T.A.C.O.. Take care to you all. Defiance with strength, proudly, loudly and with ALOHA