Juliajms

I don't think you owe anyone that. Sometimes you just have to take care of yourself. I don't blame anyone for feeling that way in this environment. It's ugly out there for sure. Maybe the Russians made it worse, but they couldn't have done that if the racism wasn't there to start with.

^ Maybe there is more hope than I think. It's hard to say, but the idea of sending large numbers of people away from their families to find work is pretty disgusting to me given the amount of economic equality we have in this country. Plus it's not the 1930's. How many people would really send the money back to their families? Seems a lot more likely the families would just break up. Then people always say the families should move, and that's probably true, but I went down that road as a young single woman. I can only imagine how hard it would be with kids. Poor/working class people rely on family for social support, especially child care. Middle class and rich people can pay for it which is why we are more mobile. Plus some of these people still have upside down mortgages. Still, to survive some of these people will almost certainly have to move. All I can say is I absolutely believe plenty of people are feeling economic anxiety. I feel it and I'm in a much more secure situation than the average miner. We live in unstable times and did even before we were being led by someone completely incompetent. None of that is an excuse for people to scapegoat others though. I blame the Republicans for using economic anxiety to exacerbate racial/cultural anxiety.

I do believe it was about economic anxiety and racism and authoritarianism and Russian interference. One reason doesn't exclude another. It was a perfect storm. As to this article, why would you think it's so easy (or even possible) for people to change? People cling to what they know, especially people who are unsophisticated and lack education. I know that sounds condescending, but I grew up with people in this class (if not even lower). It's very hard to change when you do not have a wider view of the world. Does anyone really think the majority (or even plurality) of coal miners over 30 can become computer programmers or nurses? Not going to happen. Which does not mean some people can't change, but we should be blitzing the kids in this group who are still in school with these opportunities. That also won't happen, but that's where possibility for change is real.

Yes. My husband was telling me about Amy Barrett. She belongs to some group called People of Praise. The women in the group are called "Haidmaids" and the men are called "Heads" I cannot believe this is real life. Needless to say her views are abhorrent. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/amy-coney-barrett-abortion-rights-federal-judge_us_59f87abde4b0aec1467ac111?section=us_politics

I'm thrilled they're having a hard time getting their horrible tax bill done. http://thehill.com/policy/finance/358112-gop-to-release-tax-bill-wednesday-but-it-wont-be-final

No, I don't.

Got you. I was unsure whether you meant the entire American system or the Trump administration. I think there is definitely a case to be made that the American system is more vulnerable they many of us thought. Some people saw it, but not me. As for the Trump administration disintegrating quickly, in some ways it's always felt like it was falling apart. Right from the start with the ridiculous lies about crowd size he seemed unglued. At the same time, I won't trust it's over until someone else is sworn in.

If we ever manage to get billionaires out of government maybe we can get them out of education too. This is pretty disturbing. https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/30/kochs-public-schools-shakeup-244259

I don't, so explain it to me in more direct terms, please.

Carl - Right! I'm trying to be a little more optimistic than that. Like he said maybe our institutions still have enough life in them to get 45 out. I just feel we have to be on guard and protest if there is any sign of Mueller getting fired. I've certainly done all I can to marginalize them in my life, but I don't see how we can do that on a national basis. Right wing media is one of the big problems, if there were someway to hold them accountable that would be a good start.

This thread is why I'm only cautiously optimistic. It's about the power of the right wing media and how good they are at distorting facts. It's worth a read. https://twitter.com/drvox/status/924848605457825792

I can hardly believe it. I would be down right giddy, but until 45 is led out of the white house I can't help but thing something will go wrong.

It's truly insane how much awful stuff is happening. I want to believe Mueller can stop him, but it may be too late. People keep accepting more and more corruption and it's becoming obvious that it's very hard to stop. Thank God.

That only matters if we are still under the rule of law. How sure are we that that's the case? Look at the corruption and ethics violations that are already going on and no one is stopping it. Nothing done in Congress, but still a lot of awful things are being done. Looks at the refugee situation and all the environmental and consumer protections being gutted. All of us in this thread can probably name 10 horrible things that have happened because of Trump.

Those who pray should add Ruth Bader Ginsburg to their list. She may be healthy, but at 84 anything can happen. I admire these people who hang in there as long as they can for the sake of the country. http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/357657-ginsburg-ill-be-a-scotus-justice-for-as-long-as-i-can?rnd=1509228187

So many of these guys are becoming unhinged it seems.

So much corruption. Then this: Trump administration allowing a terrible pesticide to continue being used. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/10/28/opinion/sunday/chlorpyrifos-dow-environmental-protection-agency.html?smid=tw-share

More rumors that Hatch might be out with Romney running in his place. I wonder if this makes any practical difference. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/10/hatch-romney/544211/?utm_source=twb

Yes. Here is a woman who should truly know better given who her mother is and her education. Still, we all know that women have been socialized to go along with some of this bad behavior. A lot of misogynistic thinking was drummed into my head as a kid, it's taken me forever to root it out. So I have some sympathy for other women who swallow the koolaid, but not a woman like this. Now way in hell.

It's certainly possible, but I'm going to simply assume he's a terrible human until it's proven otherwise.

Exactly. Just today their was a headline about Hillary Clinton saying that the GOP is imploding. My hopes were rising, until I read the article and realized what she meant was the GOP is continuing to radicalize. There are moments when I truly wonder if none of this is happening and I'm in the midst of a mental break. I know it's a bit narcissistic, but I really have these 30 second periods where I question my reality. Headlines like this trigger such thoughts. I can hardly believe this is real life. Never mind the UN, we'll just go through religious organizations. http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/357224-pence-says-us-to-stop-funding-ineffective-un-relief-efforts

I'm with you Carl. I'm a little more optimistic, I guess. However, added to the problems you mention is that white people are not going to be the minority. We/they are going to be the plurality and that is a big difference. All these wingnuts need is the right scapegoat and the right ally and they can continue their reign of terror . That's assuming we survive 45 in the first place. I am frankly terrified at the radicalization of the Republican party. It may have been brewing for awhile, but it's getting worse as far as I can see. Millennials are more liberal when it comes to sexual identity, but there are several studies out there suggesting that they are every bit as racist as older generations. I'll look them up and post a source later or tomorrow. I have my hands full at the moment. ETA: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/06/23/millennials-are-just-as-racist-as-their-parents/?utm_term=.3b44fbf4c805

It's so pervasive. It's one of those problems that is so huge I don't know how it can change. At the same time society does make huge leaps sometimes, so maybe there is hope.

I'm not really clear on what happened. I guess I'm assuming he grabbed her bottom. I really hope that men start to realize they don't have a right to touch other people of either sex just because they want to. Obviously, women too, but it just seems like the overwhelming number of people who think they have a right to grab are men.