So has Vance.... It's easy to say no when your self-interest is not at stake. — Vera Mont

:up: Poilievre is susceptible enough

No. I didn't realise the importance of politics until late in life. I found it boring.
I only knew that Tories were bad! I didn't have that education that is sorely needed. — Amity

I think this is absolutely crucial for the whole system of democracy to work. It's not boring and above all, it's crucial that people actually do have a link to the actual political system. I don't think people especially at the communal level are weasels or are trying to make a career out of it. It's many times that these people have more of a duty. — ssu

Right on, Brother Bear! The news makes the running of our national and provincial affairs sound boring - in good times. In good times, too, when we have no crises to be alarmed about and no outrage to shake our puny little fists at, we find entertainment elsewhere. Most people can tell you more about the Star Wars franchise, or their football club's performance, than the doings of the people we entrust with making our laws and spending our tax money. As long as government does a good job, we tend to ignore it. We don't notice corruption creeping in, foreign, special interest and financial influence guiding government decisions. We don't notice until we're well on the way to frog soup.

That's the first thing that happen in real authoritarian regimes: nobody talks politics. It's far too dangerous — ssu

Joke from the old 'communist' Russia: Two men are standing on the corner, waiting for a streetcar. A Mercedes goes by, shortly followed by a Lada. One man turns to the other, "Tell me, comrade, which is the better car?" The other answers without hesitation, "The Lada, of course." "If you think that," asys the first man, "you don't know cars." "Oh, I know cars. But I don't know you,"

while Trump was out rabble-rousing and chest-thumping for those three years (he basically never stopped campaigning since 2008.), they just got on with the job, and the big broadcast networks kept it all very quiet. — Vera Mont

They really do need to speak up, celebrate their successes and stay in touch with the grass roots between elections.

Yes, yes and YES!

Re: education and involvement.

I think this is absolutely crucial for the whole system of democracy to work — ssu

Yes. But what, where and how?

Rampaging Trump wants to squash public schools and replace them with them education-for-profit and religious indoctrination...

... where is all this improved electorate through education supposed to come from?
Not commercial mass media! And the public broadcasters will soon lose their funding, if not their licenses. — Vera Mont

I think our education system still provides for political literacy in the curriculum but not sure of all the details. I found this but there has to be more:
'The resources could equally be used or adapted to engage parents, guardians and carers in the discussion. They also provide an extensive list of external resources which can be used by practitioners.'
https://education.gov.scot/resources/you-decide-a-political-literacy-resource/

***

I cannot overstate the effect of what it means to really have a small discussion about political issues as we have here with members of parliament. They usually are quite sane and far more intelligent and aware than you get from the media. — ssu

That sounds wonderful. How does that work in practice?

I don't know that people even know who their MP is. Never mind, their contact number.
The MPs have difficulties of their own re increasing levels of threat. And accessibility issues:

The combination of rising rents and increased security requirements has meant that some MPs have felt unable to have constituency offices on high streets and in buildings with shop windows, where they are visible and easily accessible to the public.
[...]

MPs' safety has been a longstanding cause for concern, with fears heightening since the murders of Jo Cox and Sir David Amess in 2016 and 2021, respectively.

Last year, the issue was thrust into the spotlight after Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons speaker, admitted that fears over the safety of MPs had been a factor in his decision-making in a contentious vote over the war in Gaza.

Jo Stevens, now the Welsh Secretary, had her constituency office in Cardiff vandalised following the vote, with the words "murderer" sprayed on the walls. — Sky News - New MPs struggle to set up offices

One crucial issue is that you can talk about politics even with strangers. That's the first thing that happen in real authoritarian regimes: nobody talks politics. It's far too dangerous. — ssu

It is dangerous even in non-authoritarian regimes. Our political representatives are at increased risk from threats and attacks. There is so much anger out there, usually stoked by hard-right extremists.
From Feb 2024:

Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said: "Over the past few weeks we've seen disgraceful attempts to intimidate MPs and undermine our democratic processes. That behaviour is a threat to our democracy, and toxic for our society."

Earlier this month, Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood's home was targeted by pro-Palestinian protesters, with the police warning his family to stay away as it could have "antagonised the situation".

Another Tory MP, justice minister Mike Freer has said he is standing down at the next election, after death threats and an alleged arson attack on his constituency office had "become too much".

He welcomed the extra security, but said the bigger issue was why people now felt "emboldened" to attack MPs and intimidate their families.

"Unless you get to the root cause, then you're just going to have a ring of steel around MPs. And our whole style of democracy changes."

Preet Gill, Labour MP For Birmingham Edgbaston, said death threats had become "a norm" in her job, while Conservative Stafford MP Theo Clarke said she carried a panic button directly linked to the police "at all times". — BBC News

You don't have to look far to see why people are 'emboldened' to attack.
Their role models of the hard-right with their hate-filled rhetoric encouraging 'wars' against the 'enemy'.

The Jan 6th insurrection. The criminals now pardoned by the Criminal-in-Charge US President.
It's good and patriotic to attack or hang 'traitors'.

People are scared when e.g. even the wearing of masks during Covid was politicised.
The Dems for. The Idiots against.
Imagine being attacked for being vulnerable or health conscious...no matter your political colour.

[ Sorry, off on a rant! Time for a break, methinks...]

I cannot overstate the effect of what it means to really have a small discussion about political issues as we have here with members of parliament. They usually are quite sane and far more intelligent and aware than you get from the media. — ssu

That sounds wonderful. How does that work in practice?

I don't know that people even know who their MP is. Never mind, their contact number.
The MPs have difficulties of their own re increasing levels of threat — Amity

Part of it is their indifference - some of which comes from past disappointment. Part of it is that representatives are not readily accessible in person. But the incumbents do - in my riding, anyway - send around periodic newsletters with their contact information at the constituency office as well as the one in Ottawa or Toronto. The losing candidates don't have money for that, and they're busy with their regular life; don't know if they'll even run again. However, there is nothing stopping them from maintaining a website, or at least a presence on the party association website. This is not a superb production, though better than the NDP's. I do wish asking for money were not the banner headline, but, well, there is an election coming up. Not a hope in hell for my God & cattle conservative riding... I vote anyway. And I've attended small group meetings with candidates, as well as informal discussions with the local oh-so-righteous Humanist chapter. (The mean well, really.) The Ontario public tv network has a program called The Agenda, where they discuss issues with experts as well as politicians, and they film some of these in college auditoriums where the guest takes questions from the audience.
Also, if you're upset or concerned about something, you can always write to their office, express your views on social media. I'm sure they would be even happier to hear from constituents who approve of something they did.
What they're really not good at is listening to suggestions from the voters.

Joke from the old 'communist' Russia: Two men are standing on the corner, waiting for a streetcar. A Mercedes goes by, shortly followed by a Lada. One man turns to the other, "Tell me, comrade, which is the better car?" The other answers without hesitation, "The Lada, of course." "If you think that," asys the first man, "you don't know cars." "Oh, I know cars. But I don't know you," — Vera Mont

It's a reality that I experienced in my youth. I have told this, but I'll tell it again. My parents were scientists and they invited many visiting scientist to our house. Twice were there scientists from the Communist bloc, which both encounters taught me a lot. First came two Soviet women. In pairs, of course, as they had to check each other. At first the dinner table conversations were science and family and how lovely places are in the summer. Then came Glasnost, openes, and the second time only one came. And basically the first thing she told to us was "Did you know that Stalin killed my father?" Her father's mistake was that he had been an aircraft engineer and had studied in Germany, which naturally made him a spy. In the 50's her mother had been informed about the death of his husband and said that it had been an error. The other example was a lively latino man from Cuba, named Jesus. He could visit Finland as he was a card carrying member of the Communist party of Cuba and a staunch believer in Castro. It was 1989 and I asked him what he thought about the events in Romania (which was having it's revolution). My father tried to show with his hand that this wasn't a good topic to talk about. But Jesus got so excited, yes, he had been in Romania and Ceaucescu's secret police, Securitate, had jailed him for a while. Because, he obviously was a foreigner as he didn't look Romanian. And we had a lively discussion on Cuba, Finnish economic history and how he hoped that Cuba could be like Sweden. When I was taking Jesus back to his hotel (I had just gotten my drivers licence), Jesus admitted that he had been for years in East Germany and in the Soviet Union and never had he talked about politics with foreigners. Never.

Those encounters made a huge impact on me. Now people are usually friendly and nice, but once there is this authoritarian rule forced down upon them, it does change things how they behave. And of course now Russia has gone back to those days of the Soviet Union. Russia has far more political prisoners now than during the time of Brezhnev or later. Expats are really frightened what has happened to their country.

Hence this is one of those true alarm bells, a "canary in the coal mine": when open political debate dies, when politics becomes too heated, too divisive or people become too scared to talk politics with people they don't know so well, the foundations of a democracy are threatened.

Part of it is their indifference - some of which comes from past disappointment. Part of it is that representatives are not readily accessible in person. But the incumbents do - in my riding, anyway - send around periodic newsletters with their contact information at the constituency office as well as the one in Ottawa or Toronto. — Vera Mont

Social media and it's algorithms is one thing to blame. But yes, I would encourage people to be active in politics. Even more active than I am.

And, for heaven's sake, listen to public television and radio! Their whole purpose is to educate the public about issues that affect the public. Support them while you still have them.
I'm pretty sure Trump will shut down PBS and NPR, as soon as he finds out they exist.


We left Hungary in in 1956, November. I was old enough to understand quite a lot of what the adults said in murmurs around the card table. My mother went out to watch the night they pulled Stalin's statue down and smashed it with hammers. We spent some days in the cellar and stood in line for bread and milk on the quiet days. A couple of young boys from our building had rifles; one was killed. Finally, we had to leave because the Russians were winning and my father didn't always speak in murmurs; he had too much of a temper - but was such a good fellow that the policeman down the hall gave him a warning.

The funny thing is, I was a pretty good little communist then - it sounded right, the way the ideals were presented - and I'm a marginal communist now. The government wasn't. They persuade the well-meaning with lies. Fascists persuade the angry and aggrieved with the promise of power and revenge.

"Did you know that Stalin killed my father?" Her father's mistake was that he had been an aircraft engineer and had studied in Germany, which naturally made him a spy.
[...]
My father tried to show with his hand that this wasn't a good topic to talk about. But Jesus got so excited, yes, he had been in Romania and Ceaucescu's secret police, Securitate, had jailed him for a while. Because, he obviously was a foreigner as he didn't look Romanian. And we had a lively discussion on Cuba, Finnish economic history and how he hoped that Cuba could be like Sweden.
[...]
Russia has far more political prisoners now than during the time of Brezhnev or later. Expats are really frightened what has happened to their country. — ssu

***

We spent some days in the cellar and stood in line for bread and milk on the quiet days. A couple of young boys from our building had rifles; one was killed. Finally, we had to leave because the Russians were winning and my father didn't always speak in murmurs; — Vera Mont

Thank you both. It is stories like this and worse that people need to hear. To realise how lives change under a fascist movement and dictatorship. How we take our freedom of speech for granted. We don't use it enough to present or maintain the progressive vision.

The positive aspects e.g. of migrants and the EU, haven't been promoted by politicians, who may well fear that this would lose them votes. And perhaps because their own beliefs are swinging away and they sit on the fence.

In the UK, this resulted in Brexit. Lies and propaganda painted on a bus. Like:

'The money saved from leaving the EU will result in the NHS getting £350m a week'

More here:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/final-say-brexit-referendum-lies-boris-johnson-leave-campaign-remain-a8466751.html

***
We need to see the faces. We need to hear the words. Of positivity. Not fear or hatred.
To reach beyond the superficiality - oh, he is a man's man re Farage. What a character - Boris.
The cult of personality and charismatic showmanship - are we still mesmerised by it?

I've heard more from Bernie Sanders lately than ever before. See previous post:
https://thephilosophyforum.com/discussion/comment/970530

A Sad Moment in American History - Bernie Sanders


***
In Germany, a major issue seems to be that of migrants. Apparently, according to the fascistic far-right, we need less of them and more of their own kind of babies.

We are in, what some call, a Discrimination Crisis:

The country’s reliance on migration to sustain its economy, however, has rarely been addressed by politicians during the campaign. Instead, many have leaned on a one-sided narrative, emboldening the far right in a way that could have dire impacts on people of colour, said Olivia, 23, whose father hails from Nigeria.

“You can feel it already,” she added. “It’s shifting already but it will probably get worse. I’m scared of seeing that in the future.”

In September, Germany’s federal anti-discrimination commissioner, Ferda Ataman,linked the rise of the far right to a “discrimination crisis”, citing the more than 20,000 cases that had poured into her office between 2021 and 2023.

“Millions of people are afraid for their future,” Ataman said at the time. “In view of the electoral successes of right-wing extremists, it is more important than ever to protect people effectively from hatred and exclusion.”

In Germany’s eastern states, where nearly a third of voters cast their ballots for the far right in last autumn’s state elections, migrant groups have warned of a spike in attacks as people report being spat on, sworn at, attacked, and punched in the face.
[...]
“You don’t see that there’s enough sensitivity around the fact that this is a debate where everyone should stand up. Like if you’re in a workplace, you want people to say ‘OK, we understand that this is an attack on you as a colleague and we are standing with you.’”

While some had taken to the streets to protest against the shifting political climate, many others in media and beyond had not clearly rejected far-right views, added the 57-year-old.
— The Guardian - Germany's Election

Everyone should stand up against far-right views when people are attacked and live in fear of their lives.
But this is where fear enters the picture. The bullies are big, powerful cowards. Criminals.

It is not just a 'sad time in American history', it is a revival of a terrible European past.

Trumpian tentacles have a global spread. That is their Regressive Vision.
Oligarchs are in charge. Their global vision is power and increased riches for themselves.
Greed beyond belief. The people be damned.

This is not the time to be silent.

Where are those whose voices should be ringing out. Those Democrats who lost the USA Election.
If serious about their professed beliefs, they should not be licking their wounds, or working on next election strategy. They should be doing what is necessary. Now!

Perhaps they are and I'm just not seeing it. That is the problem.

You have seen it what it is. I'm afraid that when those that have seen the horrible face of true totalitarian system die of old age, we take for granted all the perks of a democratic society and engage in stupid "Culture Wars".

Hungary had it's uprising in 1956 crushed by the Russian boot, yet Orban is now pro-Russian seems a bit puzzling. Putin is quite the similar Russian as the Soviets were in 1956, only doesn't have the intact Empire that Soviet Union had.

And Trump is falling totally to Putin, with the dictator telling him lies of possibilities of investments in Russian energy and mineral wealth. Which is all bullshit, he won't give anything to a fools and Putin's idea isn't to open up his country.

I am grateful to everyone who has shared their thoughts and experience.
It has been eye-opening.

However, I think it is time for me to stop posting.
The more I learn, the more I know.
But knowing, even at a superficial level, isn't really helping me.
I find it dispiriting. And I should be attending to other matters.

Thanks again. Take care. Enjoy what you can, when you can. :pray: :flower:

Keep your good spirit and a stiff upper lip. These jerks are not the only people in the scrum.

hink our education system still provides for political literacy in the curriculum but not sure of all the details. I found this but there has to be more: — Amity

Ours, too, though it's under a lot financial pressure. The US one suffers greatly from state governments that have been dressing right forver. There were a few reforms after the world wars and a few more due to the civil rights movement, but all the old prejudice is still there. Now, they've added science denial to the list of falsehoods they teach children.

We need to see the faces. We need to hear the words. Of positivity. Not fear or hatred. — Amity

That's what the Harris campaign attempted, and I fully approved of their approach. They simply underestimated the racism, sexism, xenophobia and paranoia that had seized so much of their population. And they didn't phrase their positive message in slogans of five words or less; they hammered on the one that least concerned men. They should have hit their contribution to wages and unions a lot harder and abortion, not nearly as hard.
It's difficult for candidates to find just the right tone to reach the most voters. If they try to gather in one demographic, another feels left slighted.

In Germany, a major issue seems to be that of migrants. Apparently, according to the fascistic far-right, we need less of them and more of their own kind of babies. — Amity

This is a perennial theme with them: racial and/or cultural purity. It resonates with all those people who were weaned on patriotic songs and stories. That national identity I mentioned earlier is a very, very strong motivator. And for a great many men, young ones in particular, the idea of dependent, subservient women is very, very appealing. It gets worse: we now have a generation of young people who were never socialized at all; they've grown up digital, with 'social' media, sports, violent films and games and pornography. They don't know how to talk to real people face to face; they're more alienated and dissatisfied - hungry, they know not what for - than ever, and totally superfluous in an automated world.

I've always loved Bernie. He should have been elected president in 2016.

Hungary had it's uprising in 1956 crushed by the Russian boot, yet Orban is now pro-Russian seems a bit puzzling. Putin is quite the similar Russian as the Soviets were in 1956, only doesn't have the intact Empire that Soviet Union had. — ssu

Orban's stance is not so puzzling when you realize that he, too, is a populist dictator wannabe (Hungarians have been calling him Victator for years), without the power of a Putin or Trump, so he can only hang onto their coattails. Secondly, if he turned against Putin, he knows Hungary would be next after Ukraine - there's usable bauxite and fruit, but also, geographically, it's a nice buffer between the east and west. Putin wants the big USSR back, with no interference from the west. Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia were never of much interest or value to the West, until the 199'0's, when they were opened up to capitalist predation.

Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia were never of much interest or value to the West, until the 199'0's, when they were opened up to capitalist predation. — Vera Mont

Well, before the 1990's they were behind the Iron Curtain and basically it would be WW3 to mingle with them. The Iron Curtain was also in the minds of the Western alliance. As is now the idea of all Russians being on the side of Putin.

This was first seen in Hungary actually, when Eisenhower didn't intervene. As I've said on the Ukraine thread, Russia has always tried to mimick not only the crushing of the Hungarian uprising, but especially the military operation Danube, the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. It tried to repeat at the the start of the first Chechen War and tried again to do this in the start of this war in February-March, and utterly failed in the operation of capturing Kyiv.

Well, before the 1990's they were behind the Iron Curtain and basically it would be WW3 to mingle with them. The Iron Curtain was also in the minds of the Western alliance. — ssu

Yes, and as soon as that curtain came down, all the vultures who had been waiting for a chance to exploit those countries came flapping in. They bought up government properties cheap, took over industries, agriculture and resource extraction before appropriate taxes or regulations could be put into effect by the weak, divided and broke new government. And there were plenty of opportunists inside, waiting for the opportunity to sell out their country. They've been trying, clumsily, half-heartedly, to clean up the damage ever since, but couldn't, which is why so many disenchanted people and reactionaries put Victor Orban in power. (idiots!!)

Repetition gives similar outcomes..... the promise of the Universe!
Simple enough for wanna be dictators to understand.

sad smile

In Germany, a major issue seems to be that of migrants. Apparently, according to the fascistic far-right, we need less of them and more of their own kind of babies.
— Amity
This is a perennial theme with them: racial and/or cultural purity. It resonates with all those people who were weaned on patriotic songs and stories. — Vera Mont

This is part of the European Crisis. A tipping point.
It is linked to religion. I posted something earlier. It bears repeating. It is the first time I've heard Farage talk in this way:

“Of course family matters enormously, of course we need higher birth rates,” Farage told the event, adding that the UK and wider west had “kind of forgotten that what underpins everything is our Judeo-Christian culture, and that’s where we need to start”.

Restoring a “sense of optimism” that was last afoot in the 1980s and 1990s was essential to reversing decreasing fertility rates in the UK, Farage said.

Calling for some “very, very big cultural changes” to persuade Britons to have children, he went on: “We’ve got to start telling young kids that hard work is good, that success is good, that there are no shortcuts in life, that making money is good.” — Amity

Religious rhetoric is a divisive strategic tool, seen as a vote winner given Trump's victory.
Britiish Rightwingers are singing from the same hymn sheet. Hallelujah!
Will this work in the UK's mainly secular society? It seems to be gaining traction.

This is the message from the ARC conference. Get it? The Alliance for Responsible Citizenship.
All western civilisation is at a tipping point because it has lost touch with its 'Judeo-Christian' foundation.

No. The tipping point, this European and Global Crisis, is because of your greed for riches and power. And lying through your dishonest teeth.

***

There has been an infiltration of the US Evangelical conservative Christian groups in the UK. MPs have been lobbied on issues such as abortion and assisted dying. The restriction of women's reproductive rights. Women are reduced to being baby producers.

Last year, the UK branch of the US-based Alliance Defending Freedom provided “briefing material and legal analysis” to MPs before a vote on introducing buffer zones to prevent anti-abortion activity outside abortion clinics.

One reason for the sometimes covert involvement of such groups is the resistance of many people in a largely secular society to religious individuals or organisations seeking to impose their worldview on others. Evangelical Christians have fared poorly in UK politics whenever their views have come into conflict with principles fundamental to British liberal democracy.

“Religion is much less of a factor in politics here than in the US,” said Nick Spencer of Theos, a Christian thinktank. “But the Christian right is gaining momentum. I don’t think the Arc conference would have got off the ground 10 years ago.”

Those speaking at the conference appeared to be a mixture of conservative Christians, social conservatives, libertarians and “Maga-types”, he said. “It is clear what they’re against – internationalism, net zero, the denigration of national history – but these aren’t necessarily theological positions.” — The Guardian - UK Populists mix faith and politics

The article points out that the UK is not similar to the US. Religion doesn't play a major part in our life.
However...in politics it does.

Rob Ford, professor of politics at University of Manchester:

In the US, evangelical Christians are a huge part of politics because they are a huge part of US life. Here you have quite a remarkably high density of evangelical Christians in elite politics.” — The Guardian

There is clearly a danger coming from those who are appropriating Christian values for their own political ends. Those greedy, self-interested Trumpian liars who hold the Bible aloft to sway their believers.

The Criminal who thinks himself God or King. His rich, powerful, corrupt Gang who remove all human rights at a stroke. To rape the Earth of all its goodness, to enrich selves at the cost of everyone else. For the sake of Peace?

Why is the Criminal so intent on seeking the honour of the Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize?
And what if he isn't so honoured?
Well, let's see.
'The World Peace Prize' - organised by oligarchs for Right Royalty. Yup!

A Gold Throne Toilet just the job:

The Guggenheim museum linked the meaning of the sculpture to the career of Donald Trump, writing in September 2016[24] that "the aesthetics of this 'throne' recall nothing so much as the gilded excess of Trump's real-estate ventures and private residences". Cattelan himself declined to give an interpretation of his work, which he conceived of before Trump's presidential candidacy. He said that the connection to Trump is "another layer, but it shouldn’t be the only one." — Wiki - America (Cattelan)

I've always loved Bernie. He should have been elected president in 2016. — Vera Mont

The fact is that he holds and lives his honest and progressive beliefs. He speaks plainly and clearly to camera. He knows how to reach out in a 5 minute YouTube clip. He spells it out. Ending with his hope that, in this critical moment, every American, regardless of political perspective will stand tall and say:

"YES to Democracy. NO to oligarchy, and NO to authoritarianism!"

We need to see the faces. We need to hear the words. Of positivity. Not fear or hatred.
— Amity

That's what the Harris campaign attempted, and I fully approved of their approach. They simply underestimated the racism, sexism, xenophobia and paranoia that had seized so much of their population. And they didn't phrase their positive message in slogans of five words or less; — Vera Mont

Yes, I know what Harris and team attempted.
I am talking about NOW.
Where is the messaging, where is the attempt to fight back or even to tell it like it is?
How are they helping?
I'd even forgotten her name.

Thanks for the encouragement, Paine. It was much needed. :sparkle:

And for a great many men, young ones in particular, the idea of dependent, subservient women is very, very appealing. — Vera Mont

It is also dangerous. Women are increasingly being targeted and eliminated from political positions.
Many are fearful of females gaining power. They are consequently reduced in status.
Baby-making machines by whatever means.

Four More Years of Unchecked Misogyny
In a second Trump term, women would once again be targets.
By Sophie Gilbert

The misogyny that Trump embodies and champions is less about loathing than enforcement: underscoring his requirement that women look and behave a certain way, that we comply with his desires and submit to our required social function.
[...]
Until 2022, women and pregnant people had the constitutional right to an abortion; now, thanks to Trump’s remade Supreme Court, abortion is unavailable or effectively banned in about a third of states.

The MAGA Republican Party is ever more of a boy’s club: All 14 representatives who announced bids to become House speaker after the ouster of Kevin McCarthy were men.
[...]
He [Trump] didn’t create the manosphere, the fetid corner of the internet devoted to sending women back to the Stone Age. But he elevated some of its most noxious voices into the mainstream, and vindicated their worst prejudices.
[...]
By now, misogyny has bled into virtually every part of the internet. TikTok clips featuring Andrew Tate, the misogynist influencer and accused rapist and human trafficker who has said that women should bear some personal responsibility for their sexual assaults and frequently derides women as “hoes,” have been viewed billions of times. (Tate has denied the charges against him.)
[...]
Elon Musk bought Twitter and oversaw a spike in misogynistic and abusive content—not to mention reinstating the accounts of both Trump and Tate.
Boys on social media are being inundated with messaging that the only qualities worth prizing in women are sexual desirability and submission—a worldview that aligns perfectly with Trump’s.

Misogyny, as my colleague Franklin Foer wrote in Slate in 2016, is the one ideology Trump has never changed, his one unwavering credo. Seeking to dominate others with his supposed sexual prowess and loudly professing disgust at women he doesn’t desire has been his modus operandi for decades. Any woman who challenges him is “a big, fat pig,” “a dog,” a “horseface.” — The Atlantic - Four More Years of Unchecked Misogyny

Crisis within a Crisis within a Crisis.
The least we can do is be aware and vigilant. To defend and protect the vulnerable against the abusers. To speak out when we can. To be together in humanity. To forget small differences and join forces. Educate, inform and encourage to vote.

The People v the Dictators. The winners will be...

Repetition gives similar outcomes..... the promise of the Universe!
Simple enough for wanna be dictators to understand. — kazan

Those in power dictate the power. They can sap the energy of people, they kill and destroy in a predictable pattern. So, why are they never nipped in the bud? The signs are all too clear. Lessons should have been learned from history, if not psychology.

Is it that some are energised by the promise of the deal-makers and breakers? Hypnotised by the charismatic? A desire to belong in a cult of strong brotherhood. Tribal behaviour.

No matter who is in charge, the world and the environment moves on.

Dictators despoil the planet to enrich themselves.
The degradation of nature is already affecting the wellbeing of billions.

The world is grappling with a host of pressing environmental challenges that demand immediate attention and action. From climate change-induced disasters to biodiversity loss and plastic pollution, the 15 biggest environmental problems of 2025 paint a stark picture of the urgent need for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
— Earth Org. - 15 biggest environmental problems of 2025

The Global Crisis.

Trump's slogan: "Drill, baby, drill!" is influencing others.
The call to transition away from fossil fuels has been weakened. Many are following suit.
If the US can do it, why not us?

For example:

Argentina withdrew its negotiators from the COP29 climate meeting in Baku last November, days after Trump won the US presidency. It has since followed Trump's lead in signalling it will withdraw from the Paris Agreement of 2015 - which underpins global efforts to combat climate change.

"We now expect our oil and gas production to go up," Enrique Viale, president of the Argentine Association of Environmental Lawyers, told the BBC.

"President Milei has hinted that he intends to withdraw from the Paris Agreement and has said environmentalism is part of the woke agenda."

Meanwhile, energy giant Equinor has just announced it is halving investment in renewable energy over the next two years while increasing oil and gas production, and another oil major, BP, is expected to make a similar announcement soon. — BBC News

Trump does not like windfarms. In Scotland, he met his match when he launched legal moves against them. But now what?
Previously:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/Trump_and_Scotland

Trump has more power than ever before. Scotland watch this space.

***
European Crisis (continued)
Trump is intent on making a deal with Ukraine.
Allegedly for the sake of peace. He is no peace-maker, he is a bully.
He is going all out for mineral wealth and making demands and threats to realise his ambition.

Zelenskyy on Wednesday rejected US demands for $500bn in mineral wealth from Ukraine to repay Washington for wartime aid, saying the US had supplied nowhere near that sum so far and had offered no specific security guarantees.

US negotiators on the minerals deal threatened to cut Ukraine’s access to Starlink, Reuters reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter. Starlink provides crucial internet acces to Ukraine and its military. — The Guardian

This is extortion and blackmail. Sen. Van Hollen speaks to the shame of it: [embedded video]

“We had the Secretary of Treasury arrive to extort Zelenskyy, saying that unless you give us half of your rare mineral reserves to pay for past support, you don't get any additional support from the American people.

Imagine if, during World War II, FDR had said to Churchill and our other allies: hey, we're no longer going to support you in the fight against fascism, Nazis, and Hitler unless you sign over, now, half of your natural resources.

“Mr. President, this is a shameful moment for the United States. We have stood up for freedom. We have stood up for democracy. We have stood up for the rule of law. And now President Trump is throwing Ukraine and freedom-loving people around the world under the bus. — The Sentinel - Van Hollen Blasts Trump for Betrayal

Why is the Criminal so intent on seeking the honour of the Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize? — Amity

Because he never got over Obama getting one. I think he wants two, by whatever means, just to one-up Obama.

This is part of the European Crisis. A tipping point.
It is linked to religion. I posted something earlier. — Amity

And here's more of it, coming to a province near me. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/csis-antisemitism-violent-extremists-1.7463398?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

I am talking about NOW.
Where is the messaging, where is the attempt to fight back or even to tell it like it is?
How are they helping? — Amity

The messages are being suppressed by the Trump mafia. Facebook and Twitter have gone over to the dark side; the broadcast media are shaking in their boots, and the opposition is increasingly threatened with violence. Soon, they will also be persecuted by the trumpized legal and financial agencies.
They're underground, gathering resources for the next showdown.* The protests and outrage against the Trufia's more extreme actions have begun; even church groups are turning openly against them.
*That's a guess, not something I know.
Not enough momentum yet, but the mid-term elections should be interesting. Trump may try to steal them, or there may be armed confrontations at the polling stations - anything can happen, including a strong Democratic majority.... but more likely a civil war.

According to some pundits, they can only do this by shifting farther right. To me, it seems that would just slow the decline until a more competent and less insane spokesman takes the extremist lead.

The least we can do is be aware and vigilant. To defend and protect the vulnerable against the abusers. To speak out when we can. To be together in humanity. To forget small differences and join forces. Educate, inform and encourage to vote. — Amity

Sounds good. How?

Because he never got over Obama getting one. I think he wants two, by whatever means, just to one-up Obama. — Vera Mont

Yeah, one-upmanship is the name of the game.

The messages are being suppressed by the Trump mafia. Facebook and Twitter have gone over to the dark side; the broadcast media are shaking in their boots, and the opposition is increasingly threatened with violence. Soon, they will also be persecuted by the trumpized legal and financial agencies.
They're underground, gathering resources for the next showdown.* The protests and outrage against the Trufia's more extreme actions have begun; even church groups are turning openly against them. — Vera Mont

Media outlets are still available. Bernie Sanders seems to have mastered the art.
Use of YouTube. Also in speaking out on an organised grass roots tour.

They should not be 'undergound' in hiding. It shows weakness. There is always the threat of violence for politicians. Unfortunately, security has to be increased due to death threats. But they must live their lives. As do others who have other daily fears and uncertainties. Basic survival.

If they can't speak and listen to the people all year round, then they don't deserve their support. I hope this is happening, even if it is not publicised.

Of course, they will show up at the next pantomime. But now is the moment of crisis, for real. For ordinary people no matter their politics, religion, class or race.

Thanks for the link re strategy of moving more to the right.
I think if they are sensible, they should listen to those whose votes made the difference. Those who swing. Depending.
Discover the main issues of concern. Right now. And address them.
Even listening will make an impact. Take the time to show you care. Connect and develop trust.
Take appropriate action to solve problems. Then, evaluate the outcomes. Review and revise.
They have 4 years to do this personal, progressive work. To earn respect.

Above all, people need to see their faces, hear their voice, know who they are and what they stand for.

From the article:

Panagopoulos says if there is one thing the Democrats can learn from President Donald Trump, it was the fact that he “relentlessly” engaged while out of office. 

“Trump spent the past four years blasting Biden and Democrats, particularly on the economy,” he says. 

“Democrats could take a page from that playbook right now and not wait until the election is closer to make their case to voters,” he says.

That is obvious, even to me! But there is no clear mover and shaker, is there? Perhaps, it would be better not to have a single person but a group. A close, collaborative team. Is that possible?
Where is the leadership?

Sounds good. How? — Vera Mont

If I knew that, I would be the bestest most benevolent dictator in the bigliest of all worlds. Complete with a full hand of Nobel Prizes.

Perhaps best discussed in another thread? If it hasn't been already.

Media outlets are still available. Bernie Sanders seems to have mastered the art.
Use of YouTube — Amity

Yes, there is a lot of good, progressive stuff on You Tube. Robert Reich, a brilliant economist, The Meidas Touch network, Democracy Now some good series on law and social affairs. And tyhe public broadcast media are still operating.
These people have been speaking up, explaining, attempting to educate the public - for years. But they failed to mobilize, persuade, convince and consolidate a large enough voting bloc. And they cannot reach the right, the religious, the disaffected and the indifferent, who simply don't tune in - and the right has more, louder and better funded platforms. There, too, it's a contest of reason vs rage-stoking.

They should not be 'undergound' in hiding. It shows weakness. — Amity

Sure, but who would endanger his or her family to make themselved look strong. They lost the stage for now: the media are focused on Trump's depredations and that's what the masses are paying attention to. No point in individual grandstanding, anyway; they need to work out a strategy and send out a single, coherent message. Bernie's different: he's always spoken as he does, is familiar to the viewers and too old to have anything to lose.

“Trump spent the past four years blasting Biden and Democrats, particularly on the economy,” he says.

He had the leisure to do nothing but gripe and snipe. Indeed, he never stopped campaigning and propagandizing the whole time he was president and did nothing remotely presidential, leaving a shambles to clean up. When Biden was in office, the Dems were getting the job done, in the mistaken belief that the record would speak for them. The system is so badly skewed toward the splashy and shocking and against the sensible and positive, it's hard to be heard on commercial media unless you're screaming. However, the things he's doing now are getting the same attention as his screaming did, so the public has to realize what dangerous criminals the Joker, Mr. Moneybags and the Kennedy Mutant are. That should go a long way toward the necessary change.
And I'm extremely suspicious of courting what has become 'the middle' - what used to be the right only a couple of decades ago. Even the lamentable Shrub didn't try to tear down the country. Their concerns are: "The Hispanics are taking my job and my inheritance."; "The women are taking my power."; "The progressives are sidelining my Gawd." and "Make the prices and rents go down without regulating capitalists." The proper way to 'address' those concerns would be: "Stop whining, do your chores and share your toys!" but they don't want tough love, only tough hate.

Thank you, and others, for all that you have given. Everything written so well and easy to follow. Providing insight into the stuff of life and politics. Thought-provoking and challenging.

There is so much going on right now. I need to cut this thread loose. It has been enlightening but, for me, it is time to pop out of political commentary. It's too easy to become obsessed, with daily checking.

Best wishes :flower:

We don't need further escalting conflicts at this moment. Russia doesn't need it either. What it needed was to not have a US-vasal state on its border. So open up diplomacy with Russia, agree to neutrality of Ukraine and end the war. If the US leaves Europe as it plans to do, a lot of the tension will go away... Russia felt threathend by the US, not that much by Europe itself.

Build up European security and foreign policy apart from the US, and try to normalise relations with Russia and China. This is the only way forward long term. We will need them (and they need us) to keep the continent stable, we need them economically, and we might need them to stop the US from derailing the world into a downward spiral.

We should defend our values, but stop trying to impose them on others... if we keep making geo-politics about morality we won't get anywhere.

We should defend our values, but stop trying to impose them on others... if we keep making geo-politics about morality we won't get anywhere. — ChatteringMonkey

The present US government wouldn't recognize morality if it was rotting chained upside-down in its dungeon. None of this BS is about morality.

Poor little Russia was not shaking in its boots at the prospect of NATO, whicyh has never waged a war of aggression, getting one more member - that had been next door all along. But the countries were under Russian occupation not so long ago, especially Ukraine where Stalin perpetrated his greatest atrocity, have plenty to fear from Russia. Putin didn't attack Ukraine out of fear: he wants the grain and the minerals, as well as the territory.
All the oligarchs are out to eat as much of the world's wealth as possible before closing time.

Build up European security and foreign policy apart from the US, and try to normalise relations with Russia and China. This is the only way forward long term. We will need them (and they need us) to keep the continent stable, we need them economically, and we might need them to stop the US from derailing the world into a downward spiral. — ChatteringMonkey

Just how do you imagine that working? What interest do China or Russia have in a stable and independent Europe? None. There's only two ways to have a stable and independent geopolitical position: 1) Be a great / hegemonic power, 2) play off hegemonic powers against each other.

Everyone else ends up in one sphere of influence or another. At least that is what history teaches us.

Obviously Europe can cooperate with powers like China or Russia, but to expect a benevolent cooperation seems a bit naive. There is no equivalent alternative to US hegemony. If the US retreats, as appears incresingly likely, the result is instability which can easily result in wars.

What it needed was to not have a US-vasal state on its border. So open up diplomacy with Russia, agree to neutrality of Ukraine and end the war. If the US leaves Europe as it plans to do, a lot of the tension will go away... Russia felt threathend by the US, not that much by Europe itself. — ChatteringMonkey

(Feb 19, 2025) The Kremlin feels threatened by loss of control over Ukraine. NATO talk gave them their excuse.