DL Open Thread: Monday, November 18, 2024
The Fault, Dear Brutus, Is Them:
Mr. Trump’s election demonstrates how American tolerance for the unacceptable is nearly infinite. There are hundreds of absolutely mind-boggling things I could point to from the past decade — the suggestion of bleach injections to potentially treat the coronavirus and the wild QAnon conspiracy theories infecting millions of Americans, including politicians, and insulting veterans and making fun of the disabled. But three elections in a row, Mr. Trump has been a viable presidential candidate and our democracy has few guardrails to protect the country from the clear and present dangers he and his political appointees will continue to confer upon us.
Mr. Trump’s voters are granted a level of care and coddling that defies credulity and that is afforded to no other voting bloc. Many of them believe the most ludicrous things: babies being aborted after birth and children going to school as one gender and returning home surgically altered as another gender even though these things simply do not happen. Time and again, we hear the wild lies these voters believe and we act as if they are sharing the same reality as ours, as if they are making informed decisions about legitimate issues. We act as if they get to dictate the terms of political engagement on a foundation of fevered mendacity.
We must refuse to participate in a mass delusion. We must refuse to accept that the ignorance on display is a congenital condition rather than a choice. All of us should refuse to pretend that any of this is normal and that these voters are just woefully misunderstood and that if only the Democrats addressed their economic anxiety, they might vote differently. While they are numerous, that does not make them right.
Read the whole thing. Highly-recommended.
Southern Segregation Academies Getting Bleeploads Of Taxpayers’ $$’s. You know, because of ‘vouchers’:
Private schools across the South that were established for white children during desegregation are now benefiting from tens of millions in taxpayer dollars flowing from rapidly expanding voucher-style programs, a ProPublica analysis found.
In North Carolina alone, we identified 39 of these likely “segregation academies” that are still operating and that have received voucher money. Of these, 20 schools reported student bodies that were at least 85% white in a 2021-22 federal survey of private schools, the most recent data available.
Those 20 academies, all founded in the 1960s and 1970s, brought in more than $20 million from the state in the past three years alone. None reflected the demographics of their communities. Few even came close.
Called Opportunity Scholarships, North Carolina’s voucher program launched in 2014. At first, it was only for low-income families and had barely more than 1,200 participants. Then last fall, state lawmakers expanded eligibility to students of all income levels and those already attending private school, a move that sparked furious debate over the future of public education.
“We are ensuring that every child has the chance to thrive,” Republican Rep. Tricia Cotham argued. But Democratic Rep. Julie von Haefen pointed to vouchers’ “legacy of white supremacy” and called the expansion “a gross injustice to the children of North Carolina.”
Only slightly off-topic: It’s long past time for Delaware’s governor, legislators and key policymakers to focus almost all of their efforts on addressing the needs of Delaware’s public schools and the students who attend them. Enough of these fucking Tower Hill legacies imposing their vision on what education should look like in Delaware. Consign them to the elite fringes where they belong. And reside.
A $60 Billion Climate Solution. It’s complicated, but doable. They’re doing it in Nigeria:
Only 22 percent of…e-waste is collected and recycled, the UN estimates. The rest is dumped, burned, or forgotten—particularly in rich countries, where most people have no convenient way to get rid of their old Samsung Galaxy phones, Xbox controllers, and myriad other gadgets. Indeed, every year, humanity is wasting more than $60 billion worth of so-called critical metals—the ones we need not only for electronics, but also for the hardware of renewable energy, from electric vehicle (EV) batteries to wind turbines.
In all of human history, we have extracted some 700 million tons of copper from the Earth. To meet our clean energy goals, we’ll have to mine as much again in 20-odd years. By 2050, the International Energy Agency estimates, global demand for cobalt for EVs alone will soar to five times what it was in 2022. Demand for nickel will be 10 times higher. Lithium, 15 times. “The prospect of a rapid increase in demand for critical minerals—well above anything seen previously in most cases—raises huge questions about the availability and reliability of supply,” the agency warns.
How one man in Nigeria is making a difference:
TJ is Tijjani Abubakar, an entrepreneur who has built a thriving business turning unwanted electronics into cash. His third-floor office, in a dingy concrete building across a roaring four-lane road from the Ikeja market, is a charnel house of dead mobile phones. At one end of the long, crowded room, two skinny young men with screwdrivers pull phone after phone from a sack and crack them like walnuts. Their practiced fingers pull out the green printed circuit boards and toss them with a clatter onto a growing heap at their feet.
Abubakar handles all manner of e-waste, but the phones are his specialty. There is just shy of one mobile account for every one of Nigeria’s 220 million people. “What do I see here?” he asks, indicating his roomful of workers. “I don’t know whether any of these people have a computer. But I know all of them have a phone.” And all of those phones will one day wear out, malfunction, or get tossed by someone eager for a newer model. In 2022, an estimated 5.3 billion mobile phones were discarded worldwide. If you put them end to end, they’d reach almost to the moon and back.
Abubakar handles all manner of e-waste, but the phones are his specialty. There is just shy of one mobile account for every one of Nigeria’s 220 million people. “What do I see here?” he asks, indicating his roomful of workers. “I don’t know whether any of these people have a computer. But I know all of them have a phone.” And all of those phones will one day wear out, malfunction, or get tossed by someone eager for a newer model. In 2022, an estimated 5.3 billion mobile phones were discarded worldwide. If you put them end to end, they’d reach almost to the moon and back.
OK, just read the whole thing. It’s lengthy, but fascinating.
Goodbye, Springfield. There goes the economy:
For companies in Springfield and in nearby communities that depend on Haitian labor, Trump’s comments could prove damaging. The Haitians who filled thousands of jobs at area packaging and auto plants have helped rejuvenate once-blighted neighborhoods and contributed to the local economy in myriad ways.
While many food products lining the shelves of Springfield’s Caribbean stores are imported, many items – bread from Florida and pinto beans from Nebraska – are American. Chicken, beef and eggs served at Haitian restaurants are regularly sourced from local farms.
Recently, a Haitian community organization bought a former fire station it hopes to turn into a facility for English language classes, drivers’ education and a meeting spot.
“I pay thousands of dollars in income and property taxes every year,” said Payen, “and – because I work with Haitians to file their taxes – I see their W-2s and so on. If these people leave, that money is gone from the city and the local economy.”
What do you want to talk about?
Much of the results of the election can be attributed to the US expansion beyond the original 13 colonial states. Only 4 of the 13 voted for Trump. Conquering and expansion into large areas comes with consequences.
Wow. A Steely Dan reference.
Relatively obscure, but there nonetheless:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeBLVqFaGUw
Oh, the reference? From ‘Glamour Profession’:
” Jive Miguel
He’s in from Bogota
Meet me at midnight
At Mr Chow’s.”
Whatever nonsense Trump’s voters believe or don’t believe, perhaps a productive way to counter it would be offering an alternative rather than just saying they believe absurd things. Liberal Democrats also believe absurd things! Hence the top line argument of “we’re not him” doesn’t work.
I think the outrage would be better directed at building a platform people like. Apparently, a majority of people don’t like Democrats. Maybe focus on that.
Let’s take your comment at face-value.
How would one establish how a “platform people like” might differ from the Democrat’s current platform? Maybe we could take each of the planks and poll on the popularity of each one to find weaknesses in the platform as a whole.
Luckily, that has been done dozens (maybe hundreds) of times. Each of the elements of the Democratic vision of America is quite popular.
I am coming to the opinion that while armchair warriors want to focus on “bad policy” or some other form of rational argumentation, much of it boils down to Republicans efficiently expressing who to blame for problems (even if they don’t exist). Usually, this is immigrants, people of color and Democrats. There were literal signs on people’s lawns that said “Kamala – Crime Trump – Safety” or some such bullshit. That’s caveman campaigning.
What is the Democratic vision for America?
Does it matter? Do you need a bunch of specifics to know it won’t be as bad as the Republican vision for America?
Are we complaining about the product or the sales division?
It clearly does matter because we just lost.
I don’t think there really is a vision outside of the provision of political stability with some social equity mixed in. That’s fine, I guess, but it’s not a vision.
People want chaos because they’re willing to take their chances when the pieces fall back onto the board. Keeping the game set the way it is – a game they’re losing – doesn’t do much for them. Can’t blame them I guess.
Just my opinion!
With all due respect, I didn’t hear anybody talk about casting their vote because of either party’s “vision.”
If what you’re talking about is what I think you’re talking about – what goodies to dangle before the public to win their votes – then you’re talking sales, not product.
I don’t do sales. Have fun. Hope you meet your quota.
yea it matters becuase all trump said was – lower prices, close the border, less crime – no policy but statements the general public was interested in. the dems ran on – we will lose democracy – what is that? its an existential threat. obviously not many people care about the real threat only the concern of today.
It’s not a secret. It’s published on the website:
https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024_Democratic_Party_Platform_8a2cf8.pdf
Whereas the Republicans seem to have outsourced theirs to Heritage with Project 2025. BTW, the elements of Project 2025 are very unpopular.
But ” Kamala is for they/them, Trump is for us” is a very clear way to say, we hate what we’ve convinced you to hate.
Didn’t make it past the preamble-once I saw the “Land Acknowledgement” I tuned out.
Democrats can’t even seem to coalesce a round the idea that United States should even exist. This is the equivalent of cynical
Liberals typing out “amerikkka” No one wants to join a party under a permanent rain cloud.
I see, but you’re all about the policy positions. This checks out.
Yeah. Their very first stated policy position is “America is comprised of stolen land” which would lead me to wonder if they really are willing to fight for us at all
You made my point. The attraction to Trump and Republicans is that they lack respect and don’t give a fuck who they offend as long as “real Americans” aren’t offended.
Nice work.
” [the Democratic platform’s] very first stated policy position is “America is comprised of stolen land” which would lead me to wonder if they really are willing to fight for us at all”
1. The word “stolen” isn’t in the platform.
2. Are you saying indigenous Americans aren’t “us?”
LG- consider that three decades of these backward looking, performative gestures coupled with cynical neoliberal economic policies, have telegraphed to the democratic electorate that the great project was a joke all along, and if you actually cared or believed, that you were the butt of it
We’re talking about voters who get their news from social media because they’re too disinterested to devote more attention than that, and you think they’ll read a 92-page party platform?
When people complain about the party, they’re complaining about the messaging. And the messaging is weak because the product line that people like – universal health care, strong safety net, etc. – doesn’t comport with the agenda of the funding source, overwhelmingly corporate and rich-capitalist. A progressive agenda is not what they’re paying for.
I think this is the dichotomy Factz is trying to get at. Correct me if I’m wrong, F.
You and F = Bullseye!
Introspection score 0% Get your position papers ready for the next no holds barred cage match, I plan to hitch my wagon to best and brightest young leaders in the mold of AOC and here , Marie, Madinah,Sophie, Eric, Shane’ and others and do my limited senior bit to power through this mess.
OK, dummy, which one of them would win 270 electoral votes? What parts of their personal campaigns are in conflict with the national or state party platforms?
There’s no data to support the notion that the issue here is position papers, platforms, or any appeal to voters’ logical brain. You are a case in point. Your anger has blinded you for the past decade and you comment on these blogs more out of a sense of retaliation against perceived enemies than out of any policy issue.
Sure, those folks you mentioned have won in Delaware. I chalk much of it up to them working harder than their opponents (especially in primaries). They bring better ideas to Leg Hall in the end, but that’s not national.
Honestly, we probably won’t have a full accounting of what went wrong nationally until the data geeks finish with the analysis in February or March.
Which one of the folks I mentioned are or wil be in the next several cycles presidential candidates? Introspection score still 0% but on condescension 100%
If more old white folks would put their money and support towards the folks I mentioned and those that align with similar values and willing to fight on the new field of battle the world will soon be a better place. Go back to planning BHL and Val’s comeback sport.
I agree with Joe we need to focus on the young leaders to take our party and our ideals to the future. Young new energetic people willing to step up and take us forward. We saw some new faces run great campaigns this fall some were successful one came in second in a five way primary.
You really have to stop pimping that jagoff here. He’s nobody’s idea of a progressive.
Just made a donation to Friendship House in your honor
Don’t do it for me. Do it for them.
Consider this. The majority of Hispanic Latino men in the US voted for Trump. The majority of Hispanic Latino men in Mexico just voted for the socialist Jewish lady because people like AMLO/Morena’s platform.
Not enough Americans like the Democrats vision of America. I suggest looking for other visions nearby that people seem to like. Or continue to tell people that the stuff they don’t like is actually good. Demand that they like it! Propose more of the stuff they don’t like than act confused and mad.
This also explains why people like the WFP locally and the Dem caucus is confused. Democrats refuse to take the L and it’s putting us all at risk.
Consider this. The majority of US voters voted for the Democratic candidate in 8 of the last 10 elections (I only went back to my first election in 1996). Having this conversation without acknowledging that minority rule is baked into the US Constitution is disingenuous. If there had been no W first term and no Trump first term, how different would the country be? How different would the courts be?
A much more likely explanation, because it holds in lots more countries than two, is that voters round the world are throwing out the incumbents, of whatever stripe.
When you propose and then follow through on things people like the stupid they/them shit doesn’t matter.
Should have maybe kept doing this, for instance:
https://www.npr.org/2022/01/27/1075299510/the-expanded-child-tax-credit-briefly-slashed-child-poverty-heres-what-else-it-d
You left out the part where Democrats DID try to keep “doing this” but couldn’t get the votes. Americans don’t want expanded child tax credits badly enough to elect a Congress that will pass them.
Sure. Just like they tried to do a student loan Jubilee but got scared by the courts. There’s always a great excuse. It’s not the Democrats fault. They tried their best!
You aren’t being a serious person here. Tell me, who brought the lawsuits that killed the student loan plan? (hint: it’s who got the votes this time)
Right. It’s as if the Democrats just kept the Republicans around as an excuse for not doing things.
This is not serious analysis. In fact, it’s so unserious I’m starting to doubt your integrity. The only people I know who think Democrats can’t do a single thing right are Republicans.
‘We need a strong Republican party.” –Nancy Pelosi
“I’d appoint Republicans to my cabinet.” –Kamala Harris
They weren’t going to appoint them so they could specifically fuck things up, and you know it. If you don’t know that, you’re in the wrong place.
These are calls for bipartisanship, which the public still tells pollsters it wants. Wrongheaded, but it’s the course a bunch of cowards would take.
You really don’t understand the difference between cowardice and malign intent, do you? You’ve got a lot to learn.
At the risk of over simplifying, James Carville tried to offer advice for months. It was the economy stupid. Does matter how many Harvard economists tell you different. It is what your experience tells you. Too much concern about “woke” CRT DEI LBGTQ etc.
(all great values) but not at the top of mind of most voters. I am paraphrasing Carville, but you all get the point. Also, the influx of so many millions of migrants that took away from needy Americans was the icing on the cake. I know some of you will disagree, dismiss my comments or attack me but this type of self-reflection is necessary if we as a party are going to get ready to win in the future
I don’t recall any messaging about CRT, DEI, or any of the rest. That was Republican messaging you’re citing.
The economy is the envy of the free world. Look it up. Again, what you’re repeating is Republican messaging. If people are convinced they’re suffering because Oreos cost $6 now, how are you going to talk them out of it? I notice, BTW, that they haven’t stopped buying the Oreos, or the eggs, or the beef, or the gasoline (which has actually declined in price, I understand). They just bitch about it because Republicans do.
Also, James Carville is a horse’s ass. If someone wanted his advice they’d have paid for it. Same with Plouffe or any of the others. All this gum-flapping is the political equivalent of NFL yakfests.
The messaging was implied not specific. Just trying to provide constructive feedback. We want to win don’t we. I think Carville is an idiot but he wasn’t too far off on his advice. To achieve progressive ideals we need to win. Focusing on being too progressive and losing is like the Tea Party beating Mike Castle and giving us Chris Coons
How was the messaging implied? Seriously, that’s a lame-ass statement right there. It wasn’t implied, it was slung as mud by Republicans.
Implied how? Specifics.
Of course I made the donation to Friendship House because of the work/good they do. I was the one who first brought up how the F…ing WPD messed with the Friendship House and took the benches away. The day after I brought it up El Som featured it as a topic. We lost in November let’s not shoot each other as we try to figure out how to improve our chances/messaging for the future.
“We” aren’t doing any such thing. I don’t work for the party, and they don’t care what I think they should be doing about their messaging.
Here’s the situation: The product isn’t selling. Is it the fault of the product, the marketing team, or both?