Very moving essay-- all heart and beautifully written.
Do you ever imagine who's reading your work--or have you moved into a place where expressing your thoughts and feelings in best possible way IS a primary goal--and, always, so much the better if it strikes a sympathetic chord in the reader? Anyway, thanks for writing something so articulate and heartfelt; it makes me feel less lonely in the current wasteland of spectacular self-concern and moral blindness. Thanks again...
'Roads are maintained without any expectation of turning a profit, while courts measure success in justice rather than quarterly earnings. Public money funds basic research, food inspections and weather satellites; it pays soldiers, maintains cemeteries and regulates the airspace above us. When hurricanes strike, Coast Guard crews head into the storm to rescue people who will never receive an invoice large enough to cover the cost...'
An incidental point but all good examples of the benefits of socialist or socialised organisations and institutions, so loathed and derided by the right.
The right has been feeding what they want us to think since waaay back when..they are “not a crook” don’t lie, honor their oaths…what could go wrong…
DID!
America isn’t supporting itself- hasn’t for ‘sometime’ mentioning Indians, then Chinese, Blacks, Japs, Muslims, Jews….Onward Christian Soldiers…now it’s in (and led) by a collision collusion . The ending precarious at any angle..took Germany 12 years to recover ..but these knights in guiltless armor costs bought integrity,oaths, and trust.
History taught them how to do it .Mistake after mistake carefully teaches anyone willing - to patiently learn. What couldn’t be bought, or stolen is your choice .
This rings exactly like Alaska Governor Dunleavy promising a $3,900 dividend to citizens of the state of Alaska when he was running for election. Vote for me and I'll give you money. Those funds would have come from revenues generated by oil production on state of Alaska lands on the North Slope. And while Alaskans do get a dividend each year, it is way less than Dunleavy promised. But the Dunleavy promised dividend, similarly as with this promise from the Cheeto, must pass the legislative branch and that didn't happen. As it clearly won't happen nationally.
Great clarification. The oil dividend goes to every Alaskan human, so a family of 5 might receive $10K/yr. They understand closely where it comes from and how much it will likely be. The almost $4K has never happened and the dividends have been paid for decades.
Sure, the $5k "dividends" are probably legal if it’s sold as a public campaign promise—but Congress still has to approve and fund it. And considering the fate of the $5,000 DOGE “dividend,” the $2,000 tariff checks, and the other magical checks that never seem to arrive, I wouldn’t start spending it yet. Besides, does anyone really picture Trump enthusiastically mailing $5,000 to Democrats?
So powerful and eloquent - thank you for this heartfelt essay.
I fear all of us outside the global cabal of tyrants and oligarchs are expendable to them. And MAGA lying, gaslighting and racism are accelerating to warp speed. As when Trump vows to outdo his opponents in cheating to win elections - as if they (we) cheated our way to losing control of the presidency, Congress and Supreme Court majority.
More oppose MAGA than are in the cult. It will be harder for Trump to steal the midterms as he plans if we all vote early and securely.
Our nation is not a business/corporation and cannot thrive under this model nor meet the varied needs of its citizens nor our Constitutional laws this way. The issue becomes even more problematic when the “businessman” is one who has had multiple failed businesses and does not learn anything nor gain any humility from those failures. He just keeps on doing what he always does while other people lose job, money, security. No skin off his nose.
Wow, I think that Americans really do think we are shareholders, that Mayflower descendants are more (valuable shareholders) American than, say, someone who immigrated 100 years later. That someone has more shares if they serve in the military or display the American Flag.
You are forgetting that a lot of those who served in the military, or who display the flag are unequivocally against this regime. I refuse to give them my flag. They claim the label of Patriot and Christian, but practice neither.
The Trump administration has now taken equity positions in roughly 30 companies—about $27 billion worth. I guess government ownership of private industry is only ‘socialism’ when Democrats do it...
“9/11” has become one of those worldwide identifiable phrases, which most of the world would interpret as 9th November, were it not for the events of 11th September 2001.
It was a terrible day in the history of the USA, but not the first, or worst “9/11”
On 11th September 1709 over 30,000 soldiers were killed or maimed in the bloodiest day of the 18th century. The battle of Malplaquet was fairly pointless in the grand scheme of things. None of the participants could afford to continue the war, yet around 33,000 men had their lives cut short or ruined on one day because of power politics.
God forbid that we should come to a similar situation again, but it is clear that those in power today care as little for the lives of ordinary people as did those generals of old.
Very moving essay-- all heart and beautifully written.
Do you ever imagine who's reading your work--or have you moved into a place where expressing your thoughts and feelings in best possible way IS a primary goal--and, always, so much the better if it strikes a sympathetic chord in the reader? Anyway, thanks for writing something so articulate and heartfelt; it makes me feel less lonely in the current wasteland of spectacular self-concern and moral blindness. Thanks again...
If any questions
why we died,
Tell them,
because our fathers lied.
-- Rudyard Kipling 1919
“Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori”
'Roads are maintained without any expectation of turning a profit, while courts measure success in justice rather than quarterly earnings. Public money funds basic research, food inspections and weather satellites; it pays soldiers, maintains cemeteries and regulates the airspace above us. When hurricanes strike, Coast Guard crews head into the storm to rescue people who will never receive an invoice large enough to cover the cost...'
An incidental point but all good examples of the benefits of socialist or socialised organisations and institutions, so loathed and derided by the right.
The right has been feeding what they want us to think since waaay back when..they are “not a crook” don’t lie, honor their oaths…what could go wrong…
DID!
America isn’t supporting itself- hasn’t for ‘sometime’ mentioning Indians, then Chinese, Blacks, Japs, Muslims, Jews….Onward Christian Soldiers…now it’s in (and led) by a collision collusion . The ending precarious at any angle..took Germany 12 years to recover ..but these knights in guiltless armor costs bought integrity,oaths, and trust.
History taught them how to do it .Mistake after mistake carefully teaches anyone willing - to patiently learn. What couldn’t be bought, or stolen is your choice .
Good Luck.
This rings exactly like Alaska Governor Dunleavy promising a $3,900 dividend to citizens of the state of Alaska when he was running for election. Vote for me and I'll give you money. Those funds would have come from revenues generated by oil production on state of Alaska lands on the North Slope. And while Alaskans do get a dividend each year, it is way less than Dunleavy promised. But the Dunleavy promised dividend, similarly as with this promise from the Cheeto, must pass the legislative branch and that didn't happen. As it clearly won't happen nationally.
Great clarification. The oil dividend goes to every Alaskan human, so a family of 5 might receive $10K/yr. They understand closely where it comes from and how much it will likely be. The almost $4K has never happened and the dividends have been paid for decades.
Excellent post— I hope your son came home safely.
Sure, the $5k "dividends" are probably legal if it’s sold as a public campaign promise—but Congress still has to approve and fund it. And considering the fate of the $5,000 DOGE “dividend,” the $2,000 tariff checks, and the other magical checks that never seem to arrive, I wouldn’t start spending it yet. Besides, does anyone really picture Trump enthusiastically mailing $5,000 to Democrats?
So powerful and eloquent - thank you for this heartfelt essay.
I fear all of us outside the global cabal of tyrants and oligarchs are expendable to them. And MAGA lying, gaslighting and racism are accelerating to warp speed. As when Trump vows to outdo his opponents in cheating to win elections - as if they (we) cheated our way to losing control of the presidency, Congress and Supreme Court majority.
More oppose MAGA than are in the cult. It will be harder for Trump to steal the midterms as he plans if we all vote early and securely.
Thank you for excellent thoughts once again.
Our nation is not a business/corporation and cannot thrive under this model nor meet the varied needs of its citizens nor our Constitutional laws this way. The issue becomes even more problematic when the “businessman” is one who has had multiple failed businesses and does not learn anything nor gain any humility from those failures. He just keeps on doing what he always does while other people lose job, money, security. No skin off his nose.
Wow, I think that Americans really do think we are shareholders, that Mayflower descendants are more (valuable shareholders) American than, say, someone who immigrated 100 years later. That someone has more shares if they serve in the military or display the American Flag.
You are forgetting that a lot of those who served in the military, or who display the flag are unequivocally against this regime. I refuse to give them my flag. They claim the label of Patriot and Christian, but practice neither.
I'm so glad I've gotten to know you and Shanley via the Substack webinars. I didn't just read this, I heard it in your voice. Thank you!!
Excellent and very personal; you write so well and vividly.
The Trump administration has now taken equity positions in roughly 30 companies—about $27 billion worth. I guess government ownership of private industry is only ‘socialism’ when Democrats do it...
“9/11” has become one of those worldwide identifiable phrases, which most of the world would interpret as 9th November, were it not for the events of 11th September 2001.
It was a terrible day in the history of the USA, but not the first, or worst “9/11”
On 11th September 1709 over 30,000 soldiers were killed or maimed in the bloodiest day of the 18th century. The battle of Malplaquet was fairly pointless in the grand scheme of things. None of the participants could afford to continue the war, yet around 33,000 men had their lives cut short or ruined on one day because of power politics.
God forbid that we should come to a similar situation again, but it is clear that those in power today care as little for the lives of ordinary people as did those generals of old.
He could pay the money out of his own pocket! 🤣🤣🤣I wouldn’t touch his filthy money.