Surviving my divorce prepared me for these days. My ex was very like Cheetolini. Every word that came from his mouth instantly became fact, he would forget that he made it up and believe it utterly.
Obviously I didn't hate him when I married him, but I certainly did by the time were were actually divorced...two long years.
He did everything he could to ruin me personally and financially. He really did try to utterly destroy me and remove my children from my care. But I beat him because I was so much smarter than he'd ever given me credit for. I always told the truth and there was proof that I was honest. He always lied and there was proof that he lied.
So what I took from that nightmare experience that applies to today's nightmare experience is this:
When somebody is doing all they can to destroy you, the best revenge is SURVIVAL.
So I will survive all Cheetolini and the Republicans are doing just because I know I can and because they will be disappointed that I did survive.
You are made of good stuff, Susan. Rats always sow the seeds of their own destruction and this lot will too. Never let the rats win. Let truth and compassion have their sway. Love always wins.
Good attitude, Susan!! ♥ MUCH better than my musings about the possible effectiveness of self-immolation. . . . Cant be good if your gubmint is making one think about it, eh?
That's why I picked survival. Survival pisses them off, but self-destruction satisfies them and I'll be damned if I'm giving those Mofos any satisfaction.
“The most sweeping tax code overhaul in a generation will soon head to President Trump’s desk — and Republicans are enjoying a victory dance. Now comes the real-world turmoil,” Politico reports.
“America’s new tax system will go into effect in just 12 days, and payroll companies are bracing for confusion as they figure out new withholding rules that will affect millions of American paychecks.”
Walter Shapiro: “Trump has promised that the over-taxed IRS will issue new withholding schedules by February. But because all 150 million taxpayers subject to withholding will have to file new W-4 forms detailing their deductions, there exists the potential for a brief outburst of chaos reminiscent of the failed rollout of Obamacare.”
While having lunch I just read the posts on yesterday's thread, and was reminded of a thought for local action that came to me as I was exiting the courthouse this afternoon. There were no people gathering petition signatures, and I thought of gathering signatures (from registered voters, of course) on a petition to tar and feather Devin Nunes, assuming he could be caught. Gotta be careful, though; that could be construed as advocating violence, even if the temperature of the tar were specified to be low. But the basic concept is still valid.
Pardon me, Sir/Ma'am; are you a registered voter? No? Would you like to register now? Yes? Could we interest you in signing one of our petitions? Do look them over!
"How long are people supposed to tolerate being smacked in the face? By the rich? Who already have more than enough? It is not as though the fact that inequality is a crisis is a fact that snuck up on anyone. Economists have seen the trend for decades, and the general public has been well aware of it since at least the financial crisis. Obama called it “the defining challenge of our time.” Thomas Piketty became a rock star by writing a very dry book about it. It’s not an underground thing. It is well known and well understood by the people in control of the institutions with the power to change it. The response to this dire situation by the Republican Party, which a wholly owned subsidiary of the American capital-holding class, has been to pass a tax bill that will horribly exacerbate economic inequality in this country. It is a considered decision to make a bad situation worse. It is a deliberate choice—during a time when the rich already have too much—to take from the poor in order to give the rich (including members of Congress and the President) more. That is not a metaphor. That is the reality. That is what the Republican party is about to accomplish on behalf of the donor class, calling it “middle class tax relief” in the face of mathematical proof to the contrary. Even to my cynical ass, the sheer fuck you-ness of this action towards the majority of the country is breathtaking. This is not just a failure to solve a severe problem; it is the expenditure of vast amounts of political capital to make the severe problem worse so that a tiny handful of people will get wealthier than anyone needs to be."
More:
"Violence against people is morally wrong and a bad way to solve problems. But capital is different. One thing that would help to create the political environment conducive to solving the inequality problem would be to make the cost of accumulating all that capital too high to be worth it. In other words, to create a downside to being too rich. I have personally stood in a room full of hedge fund titans and billionaire investors warning one another explicitly that inequality must be addressed lest the U.S. become a place like Latin America, where rich people are forced to live behind walls, surrounded by armed guards, because of the very real risks from the rage of the poor. Rich people in this country do not want to live like that. If they see that they must stop being so greedy in order to enjoy their own freedom, they will stop being so greedy. Those conditions have to be created by people who want justice."
"Our situation is absurd. Not since the Gilded Age has it been more clear that a few people have too much. Furthermore, the people with too much are investing in political clout to give themselves more. It’s just wrong. If the government won’t help, we have to help ourselves. Sticking up a billionaire on the street for $100 is not going to do it. But one can imagine other ways that angry Americans might express their dissatisfaction with our current division of wealth: A large-scale online attack against the holdings of the very rich; yachts sunk in harbors; unoccupied vacation homes in the Hamptons mysteriously burned to the ground. Sotheby’s auctions swarmed by vandals, Art Basel attacked by spraypaint-wielding mobs, protests on the doorsteps of right-wing think tanks, venomous words directed at millionaires as they dine in fancy restaurants. People have a right to life and safety, but property does not. A life spent screwing the little people so that you can acquire lots of stuff loses its allure when you know that all that stuff will be smashed to pieces by angry little people. It is not hard to put together a list of those who should be targeted—Forbes publishes it every year. Likewise, public campaign finance records give us a pretty good idea of exactly who is funding the politicians who are perpetuating this economic war on behalf of the rich."
From me: All of this sounds extremely radical, but I believe we will be coming to this. People can only be shoved into the corner for so long before they start to fight back, if only from self-preservation.
Why weep or slumber America Land of brave and true With castles and clothing and food for all All belongs to you Ev'ry man a king ev'ry man a king For you can be a millionaire But there's something belonging to others There's enough for all people to share When it's sunny June and December too Or in the winter time or spring There'll be peace without end Ev'ry neighbor a friend With ev'ry man a king
Bear in mind that Huey Long's rhetorical style was common in his day but now long out of fashion. It still partook of the old American style that was intended for addressing large crowds in the open without any artificial amplification. He omits the clear enunciation of every letter.
Surviving my divorce prepared me for these days. My ex was very like Cheetolini. Every word that came from his mouth instantly became fact, he would forget that he made it up and believe it utterly.
ReplyDeleteObviously I didn't hate him when I married him, but I certainly did by the time were were actually divorced...two long years.
He did everything he could to ruin me personally and financially. He really did try to utterly destroy me and remove my children from my care. But I beat him because I was so much smarter than he'd ever given me credit for. I always told the truth and there was proof that I was honest. He always lied and there was proof that he lied.
So what I took from that nightmare experience that applies to today's nightmare experience is this:
When somebody is doing all they can to destroy you, the best revenge is SURVIVAL.
So I will survive all Cheetolini and the Republicans are doing just because I know I can and because they will be disappointed that I did survive.
Spot on, Susan; I've been through workplace experiences that taught me the same thing, but good.
DeleteAlan
You are made of good stuff, Susan. Rats always sow the seeds of their own destruction and this lot will too. Never let the rats win. Let truth and compassion have their sway. Love always wins.
DeleteBut, oh man, why's it taking so long?
Good attitude, Susan!! ♥ MUCH better than my musings about the possible effectiveness of self-immolation. . . . Cant be good if your gubmint is making one think about it, eh?
ReplyDeleteThat's why I picked survival. Survival pisses them off, but self-destruction satisfies them and I'll be damned if I'm giving those Mofos any satisfaction.
DeleteBy way of politicalwire.com; sounds like fun!
ReplyDelete“The most sweeping tax code overhaul in a generation will soon head to President Trump’s desk — and Republicans are enjoying a victory dance. Now comes the real-world turmoil,” Politico reports.
“America’s new tax system will go into effect in just 12 days, and payroll companies are bracing for confusion as they figure out new withholding rules that will affect millions of American paychecks.”
Walter Shapiro: “Trump has promised that the over-taxed IRS will issue new withholding schedules by February. But because all 150 million taxpayers subject to withholding will have to file new W-4 forms detailing their deductions, there exists the potential for a brief outburst of chaos reminiscent of the failed rollout of Obamacare.”
--Alan
While having lunch I just read the posts on yesterday's thread, and was reminded of a thought for local action that came to me as I was exiting the courthouse this afternoon. There were no people gathering petition signatures, and I thought of gathering signatures (from registered voters, of course) on a petition to tar and feather Devin Nunes, assuming he could be caught. Gotta be careful, though; that could be construed as advocating violence, even if the temperature of the tar were specified to be low. But the basic concept is still valid.
ReplyDeletePardon me, Sir/Ma'am; are you a registered voter? No? Would you like to register now? Yes? Could we interest you in signing one of our petitions? Do look them over!
Alan
https://splinternews.com/time-to-make-life-hard-for-the-rich-1821384779
ReplyDelete"How long are people supposed to tolerate being smacked in the face? By the rich? Who already have more than enough? It is not as though the fact that inequality is a crisis is a fact that snuck up on anyone. Economists have seen the trend for decades, and the general public has been well aware of it since at least the financial crisis. Obama called it “the defining challenge of our time.” Thomas Piketty became a rock star by writing a very dry book about it. It’s not an underground thing. It is well known and well understood by the people in control of the institutions with the power to change it. The response to this dire situation by the Republican Party, which a wholly owned subsidiary of the American capital-holding class, has been to pass a tax bill that will horribly exacerbate economic inequality in this country. It is a considered decision to make a bad situation worse. It is a deliberate choice—during a time when the rich already have too much—to take from the poor in order to give the rich (including members of Congress and the President) more. That is not a metaphor. That is the reality. That is what the Republican party is about to accomplish on behalf of the donor class, calling it “middle class tax relief” in the face of mathematical proof to the contrary. Even to my cynical ass, the sheer fuck you-ness of this action towards the majority of the country is breathtaking. This is not just a failure to solve a severe problem; it is the expenditure of vast amounts of political capital to make the severe problem worse so that a tiny handful of people will get wealthier than anyone needs to be."
More:
"Violence against people is morally wrong and a bad way to solve problems. But capital is different. One thing that would help to create the political environment conducive to solving the inequality problem would be to make the cost of accumulating all that capital too high to be worth it. In other words, to create a downside to being too rich. I have personally stood in a room full of hedge fund titans and billionaire investors warning one another explicitly that inequality must be addressed lest the U.S. become a place like Latin America, where rich people are forced to live behind walls, surrounded by armed guards, because of the very real risks from the rage of the poor. Rich people in this country do not want to live like that. If they see that they must stop being so greedy in order to enjoy their own freedom, they will stop being so greedy. Those conditions have to be created by people who want justice."
also from the article:
ReplyDelete"Our situation is absurd. Not since the Gilded Age has it been more clear that a few people have too much. Furthermore, the people with too much are investing in political clout to give themselves more. It’s just wrong. If the government won’t help, we have to help ourselves. Sticking up a billionaire on the street for $100 is not going to do it. But one can imagine other ways that angry Americans might express their dissatisfaction with our current division of wealth: A large-scale online attack against the holdings of the very rich; yachts sunk in harbors; unoccupied vacation homes in the Hamptons mysteriously burned to the ground. Sotheby’s auctions swarmed by vandals, Art Basel attacked by spraypaint-wielding mobs, protests on the doorsteps of right-wing think tanks, venomous words directed at millionaires as they dine in fancy restaurants. People have a right to life and safety, but property does not. A life spent screwing the little people so that you can acquire lots of stuff loses its allure when you know that all that stuff will be smashed to pieces by angry little people. It is not hard to put together a list of those who should be targeted—Forbes publishes it every year. Likewise, public campaign finance records give us a pretty good idea of exactly who is funding the politicians who are perpetuating this economic war on behalf of the rich."
From me: All of this sounds extremely radical, but I believe we will be coming to this. People can only be shoved into the corner for so long before they start to fight back, if only from self-preservation.
Huey Long: Share The Wealth[Click]
ReplyDeleteTitle[Click]
Huey Long: Difference between Republicans and Democrats[Click]
Louisiana Ramblers "Every Man A King--Goodbye Huey Long"[Click]
Every Man a King lyrics:
Why weep or slumber America
Land of brave and true
With castles and clothing and food for all
All belongs to you
Ev'ry man a king ev'ry man a king
For you can be a millionaire
But there's something belonging to others
There's enough for all people to share
When it's sunny June and December too
Or in the winter time or spring
There'll be peace without end
Ev'ry neighbor a friend
With ev'ry man a king
—Alan
Oops! Click on the second line, "Title" to see and hear Huey Long on the difference between Republicans and Democrats.
DeleteAlan
Bear in mind that Huey Long's rhetorical style was common in his day but now long out of fashion. It still partook of the old American style that was intended for addressing large crowds in the open without any artificial amplification. He omits the clear enunciation of every letter.
DeleteAlan