A two-fer Tuesday. A fellow Substacker is alarmed at the possible damage to a program for veterans' health, and a NY Times columnist accurately diagnoses Trump's shortcomings (a feature)
I’m almost certain that if I were in my 20s, maybe 30s, with no children and not much at stake, I would have probably bought some popcorn too and sat back and watched everything burn. I would’ve also been unaware of my privilege in taking such a stance.
I know people are angry and every other emotion under the sun at trump and 3rd party voters (3rd party voters are especially enraging) and those whose simply chose not to vote. I am!
However, just watching things burn is an impossible strategy for those of us who have people who depend on us and had NOTHING to do with this horrible calamity.
Thanks for reminding me why I canceled my NYT subscription. I feel dumber after reading David French.
Help the people who are going to be hurt through no fault of their own. I am 100% on board with that (and I do donate a TON to help promote women's access to reproductive care).
But those who voted against their interests? Nah, I am going to let them experience their full folly.
I live in a solidly blue state (California) and my Congress critter is a solid liberal (Zoe Lofgren) and my two senators are Dems, so there's not a lot I can directly do.
The people in red states who are net takers get little sympathy from me. Again, I know there are pockets of blue and Democrats in those states, but that is a sad casualty of their horrible leaders. I know they can't (easily) move, but there are not a lot of good options.
I am almost 60, no children, leading edge of Gen X, and a large fraction of my co-generation pulled the lever for Trump. I am ashamed, but it is what it is.
I really, really, really wish it worked that way. In one way or another, 95% of us in the US are going to suffer tremendously. Some more than others no doubt.
As someone else basically commented, don’t be so sure you’re untouchable in all this.
California isn’t quite ready to exist on its own just yet. A couple of natural disasters and a failed economy isn’t easy to just shake off.
Will I march as part of a resistance movement? Yes. Have I sent letters to my congressional peeps to do what they can to stop some of the awful shit that will go down? Yes. Ok, then, I’m doing my part. I’ll also sit on the couch, much popcorn, drink wine and watch the world burn. “This is fine”
I don’t understand people that don’t have a passing acquaintance with current events and at least some knowledge of the candidates they’re voting for. Kamala told these schmucks they should watch one of his rallies. I can’t believe there are enough that did.
I see the argument about whether to try to restrain the damage he does or to let all go. Since our side has no control of Congress, the SC or the executive it seems like a moot point. God willing Dems take back the Congress in two years and then maybe it could be debated.
I’m starting to pay more attention to making sure the offices in my state stay blue. I hear people bitching about Kathy Hochul not being progressive enough for them. She’s a Dem and a far cry from MAGA.
He comes from a compassionate place? To whom is that compassion aimed? Certainly not all of us who will suffer even tho we didn't choose this, while it's fine for those of you with a high enough income and savings to weather the coming storm, assuming it only lasts the prerequisite number of years.
Not a retrumplican troll, just a Kamala voter pissed at what those *d*ots did to this country in their self imposed ignorance, and the condescension of the upper middle class/moderately wealthy that have the resources to leave the country should they choose.
I didn't think you were, and I understand perfectly.
It's just the whole idea of Trump having any "compassion" except for himself, and that being one big thing his base shares with him, is awfully hilarious....
I wasn't talking about trump, I was talking about the author of this Substack saying his anonymous friend comes from a compassionate place after expressing that he really doesn't care what happens to us after trump takes over.
Can't say I'm happy about your take on Vets losing healthcare! My husband and I deplore the 🍊 fuck,always vote Democrat! My husband has stage 5 kidney disease and is on dialysis 7 nights a week ,10 hours a night. It's the only insurance we have. They do a great job. Without or not getting a transplant in time he will likely die. I'm terrified and I'm positive so are a lot of Vet's and their families are too.
I’m sorry to hear about your husband’s struggles and yours too as a caregiver. My heart goes out to you both.
Your situation and the many millions with similarities are why I can’t just callously kick back on the couch with popcorn.
The consequences for the many millions who didn’t vote for trump or simply couldn’t participate in this election such as children and anyone else ineligible to vote here will be severe in ways no one has imagined yet.
I am not happy about it. But a LOT of Vets did vote for Trump. I do know and have worked with many Vets, and they all are wonderful people. But two of them that I spoke with were A-OK with Trump.
I also believe that even the most craven of the MAGA-stans in Congress will prevent this from happening.
But, the fact that this is on the table is one of the consequences of the election, and while a lot of groups of people I care about are going to get hit in the face, this is just part of the dance with MAGA.
I'm almost 60 years old. I never had children because I didn't want any. I do have nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and grand nephews, plus children and grandchildren are friends that I care about, but after 40 years of watching the political hurly-burly in this country, I'm ready to let things happen. These fucking idiots wanted to vote in that asshole again, fine, let them see the consequences of their actions. And I'm just as mad at the Democrats as I am at the GOP, make no mistake. They've wasted their time, spun their wheels, alienated the working-class people whom they used to represent, and sucked up to big corporations that allowed Kamala Harris to stockpile a billion dollars for her recent campaign. In the final analysis, he who has the gold makes the rules.
I'm starting to wonder if it isn't just as evil to aid and abet them. I'm nursing a major mad at the people who didn't show up to vote 2 weeks ago, but I agree with you, my biggest contempt is reserved for those who actually voted for Trump.
Yeah, only I'm on Social Security and Medicare, and I SURE didn't buy the ticket!
Even so, I'm taking the ride my moron fellow Americans, with a big assist from Corporate Media, chose....
I’m almost certain that if I were in my 20s, maybe 30s, with no children and not much at stake, I would have probably bought some popcorn too and sat back and watched everything burn. I would’ve also been unaware of my privilege in taking such a stance.
I know people are angry and every other emotion under the sun at trump and 3rd party voters (3rd party voters are especially enraging) and those whose simply chose not to vote. I am!
However, just watching things burn is an impossible strategy for those of us who have people who depend on us and had NOTHING to do with this horrible calamity.
Thanks for reminding me why I canceled my NYT subscription. I feel dumber after reading David French.
Help the people who are going to be hurt through no fault of their own. I am 100% on board with that (and I do donate a TON to help promote women's access to reproductive care).
But those who voted against their interests? Nah, I am going to let them experience their full folly.
I live in a solidly blue state (California) and my Congress critter is a solid liberal (Zoe Lofgren) and my two senators are Dems, so there's not a lot I can directly do.
The people in red states who are net takers get little sympathy from me. Again, I know there are pockets of blue and Democrats in those states, but that is a sad casualty of their horrible leaders. I know they can't (easily) move, but there are not a lot of good options.
I am almost 60, no children, leading edge of Gen X, and a large fraction of my co-generation pulled the lever for Trump. I am ashamed, but it is what it is.
I really, really, really wish it worked that way. In one way or another, 95% of us in the US are going to suffer tremendously. Some more than others no doubt.
As someone else basically commented, don’t be so sure you’re untouchable in all this.
California isn’t quite ready to exist on its own just yet. A couple of natural disasters and a failed economy isn’t easy to just shake off.
Will I march as part of a resistance movement? Yes. Have I sent letters to my congressional peeps to do what they can to stop some of the awful shit that will go down? Yes. Ok, then, I’m doing my part. I’ll also sit on the couch, much popcorn, drink wine and watch the world burn. “This is fine”
Sometimes you can’t help those who don’t want to be helped.
I suspect a lot of them will double down rather than admit they fucked up.
Oh yeah. that is why I am so harsh in this. They need to experience the full MAGA enema
I don’t understand people that don’t have a passing acquaintance with current events and at least some knowledge of the candidates they’re voting for. Kamala told these schmucks they should watch one of his rallies. I can’t believe there are enough that did.
I see the argument about whether to try to restrain the damage he does or to let all go. Since our side has no control of Congress, the SC or the executive it seems like a moot point. God willing Dems take back the Congress in two years and then maybe it could be debated.
I’m starting to pay more attention to making sure the offices in my state stay blue. I hear people bitching about Kathy Hochul not being progressive enough for them. She’s a Dem and a far cry from MAGA.
He comes from a compassionate place? To whom is that compassion aimed? Certainly not all of us who will suffer even tho we didn't choose this, while it's fine for those of you with a high enough income and savings to weather the coming storm, assuming it only lasts the prerequisite number of years.
Funny you should ask....
Based on an earlier piece Geoff wrote, I recently wrote about "compassionate" incels who only have compassion for themselves:
https://drdarkeny.substack.com/p/why-shouldnt-i-feel-sorry-for-myself
Not a retrumplican troll, just a Kamala voter pissed at what those *d*ots did to this country in their self imposed ignorance, and the condescension of the upper middle class/moderately wealthy that have the resources to leave the country should they choose.
I didn't think you were, and I understand perfectly.
It's just the whole idea of Trump having any "compassion" except for himself, and that being one big thing his base shares with him, is awfully hilarious....
I wasn't talking about trump, I was talking about the author of this Substack saying his anonymous friend comes from a compassionate place after expressing that he really doesn't care what happens to us after trump takes over.
Oh.
Oops...?
😂
Can't say I'm happy about your take on Vets losing healthcare! My husband and I deplore the 🍊 fuck,always vote Democrat! My husband has stage 5 kidney disease and is on dialysis 7 nights a week ,10 hours a night. It's the only insurance we have. They do a great job. Without or not getting a transplant in time he will likely die. I'm terrified and I'm positive so are a lot of Vet's and their families are too.
I’m sorry to hear about your husband’s struggles and yours too as a caregiver. My heart goes out to you both.
Your situation and the many millions with similarities are why I can’t just callously kick back on the couch with popcorn.
The consequences for the many millions who didn’t vote for trump or simply couldn’t participate in this election such as children and anyone else ineligible to vote here will be severe in ways no one has imagined yet.
Thank you.
I am not happy about it. But a LOT of Vets did vote for Trump. I do know and have worked with many Vets, and they all are wonderful people. But two of them that I spoke with were A-OK with Trump.
I also believe that even the most craven of the MAGA-stans in Congress will prevent this from happening.
But, the fact that this is on the table is one of the consequences of the election, and while a lot of groups of people I care about are going to get hit in the face, this is just part of the dance with MAGA.
All of which is to say, stop bogarting that popcorn and share the sofa with me. 😂
I bought Costco out, plenty of room on the sofa.
I'm almost 60 years old. I never had children because I didn't want any. I do have nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and grand nephews, plus children and grandchildren are friends that I care about, but after 40 years of watching the political hurly-burly in this country, I'm ready to let things happen. These fucking idiots wanted to vote in that asshole again, fine, let them see the consequences of their actions. And I'm just as mad at the Democrats as I am at the GOP, make no mistake. They've wasted their time, spun their wheels, alienated the working-class people whom they used to represent, and sucked up to big corporations that allowed Kamala Harris to stockpile a billion dollars for her recent campaign. In the final analysis, he who has the gold makes the rules.
Oh yeah, my tribe (the Democrats) have gone bonkers. But at least they aren't pure, unadulterated EVIL.
I'm starting to wonder if it isn't just as evil to aid and abet them. I'm nursing a major mad at the people who didn't show up to vote 2 weeks ago, but I agree with you, my biggest contempt is reserved for those who actually voted for Trump.