I know you write about the US, but yesterday here in Germany the conservative chancellor hopeful passed, right after an Auschwitz memorial hour in parliament, an anti-immigration law (that violates European treaties and quite possible the constitution) with the votes of the Neo-Nazi party. Today conservative commentators blamed the left for driving the conservatives into the arms of the Neonazis, because we are not quite at the stage of the US where the right wingers are open and proud when it comes to being racist and generally abominable. If they get away with this, they will get away with anything, including a coalition with the neo nazis after the February election. So "do not lose hope and oppose" is not an American message, it is, or at least it should be, a rallying cry for the rest of the world.
The problem with that is that we have any number of people who look at history and say to themselves "well down Adolf, I will certainly learn from that". Forgetting that there are people who are not misinformed or anything, but are evil because they really want to, is one reason opposition here is so feeble. We always assume first they are open to reason and compromise. Compromise has failed to a point where the conservatives now want to burn oil just because Greens and Social Democrats like to breathe oxygen, so clearly this is not working.
My German friends living in London were the first to take in a Ukrainian family when war broke out because ‘we have an obligation to show we have moved beyond our past’. A very different approach to Musk’s ‘no guilt, guys’. I deeply feel for the terrible moral turmoil this is unleashing in Germans who understand the stakes. You are right in saying we must stand together across nations in any way, no matter how small, that we can. This will often mean exchanging our natural reticence to antagonise and being prepared to say ‘that is cruel, wrong and causing our nation immense harm’.
I applaud your message. I'd like to ask of everyone who writes to drop the word "conservative" from our political discourse. Conservationists are conservatives. The politicians and their supporters are right-wing extremists or supporters of such and should be properly named.
A good way to keep active opposition to the Trump policies and plans in front of all Americans is to have an official Democrat chosen to counter each of the Republican cabinet members. Paul Krugman would be an excellent choice for the (anti-) Secretary of the Treasury Department representative. By having a specific Democrat who we could look to for clear opposition alternative plans and counter arguments to what is coming from the Trump administration, we would be able to constantly compare and contrast each issue in real time. Let’s do this, and Dr. Krugman, take on the role for the leader on economic issues now.
Tim Snyder has publically endorsed and encouraged the formation of a "Shadow Cabinet" which he states is a proven strategy with a history of success in other countries. Let's talk it up!
Since tRump 2.0 is dumber, meaner, and even more unhinged, it seems to me a great idea. Counter awful and irrational policies with rational alternatives. I hope the DNC elects a chairman this time who is a really great communicator.
Imo? It's probably cause these individuals would then be in the national limelight and other democrats (read mostly governors and senators) wouldn't get to run for presidency as they would obviously not be a part of the shadow cabinet being busy with their IRL. That and it would reduce the power of the party bosses.
I wonder if it's that the UK (or at least England) is a unitary parliamentary democracy where there is only one important type of election at the national level (MPs) while the US is a federal presidential democracy where there are multiple types of office to be elected (state Representatives, state Senators, Governors, federal Representatives, federal Senators and President)?
Could be an additional reason. The legislative and executive being completely separated in US hurts effective execution of policies and perpetuates a two party system binary which helps no one.
The strict two-party binary in the US isn't just down to being a presidential democracy (Latin America is full of multi-party presidential democracies): it's also down to FPTP as well as the existence of primary elections.
A grievous fault in the American system is the lack of a leader of the opposition, after a defeat and before the next election. The opposition has no focus, and has no time to build party consensus and identity and support. Who is the leader now of the Democrats? There is none. Just 20 or so ambitious (usually) men jockeying and fund-raising for a presidential run four years from now. Policy be damned.
If anyone feels like it, you can sign this petition to support this great idea and repost the following:
Democrats, we must get louder to respond forcefully to the administration and make them own their unpopular actions. Let's form a Democratic People's Cabinet, our best folks speaking out. Please sign and repost! Over 2.5K signed so far.
I very much support this approach as I’ve seen mentioned in other S/S posts. What I’d like Paul to explain is why D’s are starting massive donation requests in light of this threat? Asking roughly half the 99% Americans who are D’s to fund a fight of the boss billionaires running the show!?!? Really folks? How much of my SS do I give to support D’s trying to save my remaining money for the bosses to take? Doesn’t it boil down to that?
Absolutely, but how do we get this before the citizens when the radio stations, tv stations, newspapers and social media have been bought by the other side? When the government is being run by people who accuse the honest media of being the enemy and threaten them? Is substack reaching enough people? (Will it eventually be shutdown in the name of national security as TikTok was threatened).
The other side has two enormous advantages. It owns the media. It isn’t hampered by truth and facts. Oh, one more, it doesn’t care about people, just power and profiteering.
Every dog has its day. The script will soon flip again. Once it does, the public and the media will not turn back to him again. This is a foolish but temporary setback.🤞🍀✌️
"A coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the valiant taste of death but once. It seems to me most strange that men should fear, seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come." William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
More important things are going on now, Democrats and ethical Republicans, than your seat in Congress. Don't be cowards.
With a wannabe dictator in the White House, we need to stop singing (or standing for) The Star Spangled Banner, our national anthem, because we're no longer "free" and a "home of the brave". If anyone asks (and they will) we simply explain that anyone who chooses to kiss Trumps ring (or ass) are cowards, and the freedoms of our democracy for women, minorities, immigrants, and all but angry rich white guy republicons are being stolen in their constant and continuing quest for excessive profit. The cowards are stealing our freedom with their addiction to excessive profit.
"O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave" may once have been who we were, but not any longer and until we restore and perfect our democracy for all.
Why can’t we flood the zone with short videos on several subjects- we talk about low information voters - then let’s educate them on why certain things are important and why they matter? Things like separation of powers, need for a federal workforce that is non-partisan, separation of church and state, corporate welfare and control of so many aspects of our daily life. Not bashing the other side but explaining the importance of the Constitution - give them an opportunity and a means to understand instead of the divisive rhetoric that seems to permeate everything. The massive amount of money poured into political campaigns by corporations and the very rich and powerful - we have to counter the endless repetition of propaganda and lies with the truth in simple terms over and over again until it starts to sink in.
I just an ill-informed foreigner, but maybe the opposition need to reclaim the Americana card. Show how Trump is an anti-american traitor who is destroying the constitution and everything which actually made America great. Focus on classical liberal values; freedom, justice and the rule of law which historically united people. Really make America great again, a shining city on a hill where no-one can be illegal. Don't let the MAGA steal the flag, literally and figuratively.
Do we realize our country is being destroyed by a six year old revengeful bully? With every new proclamation, I am amazed how we are all like a frog in a pot of water coming to a boil. I am elderly, but figure I have nothing to lose except the country I love..
But von trump apparently won because voters lists have been nicely purged by maga morons and other corrupted trump scions and blind admirers. Oppose and oppose again! Bring these fascists to court.
Agree 100%. Oppose, Oppose, Oppose . Every system needs a good and vibrant opposition. That opposition will not be dictated to by the admin. It's our sacred duty as citizens in opposition to oppose in every way possible especially to unlawful orders. Do not cooperate. That's what the rank and file Democrats want to see. That our reps will FIGHT for us and US. If it is too hot for anyone they need to stay home.
Mahatma Gandhi coined the slogan "karenge ya marenge" ("do or die") on August 8, 1942" By 1947 the foreign power was OUT!
Jeez Louise! Wake me up when MAGA has done more damage to the American people than Clinton’s deregulation of finance and the internet, than the Forever Wars (including the even more bipartisan War on Drugs), or than Obama “saving” the world economy by giving billions to the banks that had just brought it to the brink.
Mr. Krugman, you rock but I suggest you read MUCH more political science, as well as sociology, anthropology, and evolutionary bio/psych — may I recommend Jon Haidt’s “The Righteous Mind”? Talk about expertise! — in order to better understand the world you inhabit.
Donald Trump is a cancer, but like most cancers, he’s the RESULT of decades of shitty living. You can’t be mad at that tumor growing inside you if you’ve fed your body (and soul) nothing but trash for the past quarter century.
I get where you’re coming from but at the end of the day you’re being as tribal as the other side, while convincing yourself you’re on the “right side”, like all Sapiens do, myself included. This is exactly the kinda stuff we must guard against — as “rational” liberals — because it’s what, ultimately, tears countries apart.
You are right. The past decades have shown a rise of the right, with no resistance from the Democrats, like Obama, Biden etc. The huge inequality happened under their watch, and they did absolutely nothing to curb the power of the billionaire oligarchy. Nothing, NOTHING, with change meaningfully until this is addressed, and that will require a revolution in how the state is seen and how it functions, and for whom.
Not sure it’s about right/left anymore, but that’s THE issue: inequality. It’s what breads resentment, which makes authoritarianism attractive to so many.
Take it from someone who grew up in the Land of Inequality, Latin America. The reason this region has been fertile ground for all kinds of “populists”, from both left and right, is that inequality is, quite literally, our “original sin”.
This is the culmination of the "Reagan Revolution".
Somehow, the Reagan campaign hypnotized a large enough chunk of the American voting public to defeat liberalism for decades to come. Of course, the conservative information coup - including the likes of Rush Limbaugh - played a significant role.
True, but the context in which you get the Reagan Revolution was created in a bipartisan fashion, mainly, years of spending on Vietnam (highly inflationary); U.S. support for Israel, among other things that caused the oil embargoes (also, highly inflationary); and changes in how we governed media (ie, human communication), for example, allowing vertical integration of TV/radio stations, eliminating the Fairness Doctrine, etc.
Could we have anticipated those “unintended consequences”? I doubt it, but if hindsight really is 20/20, then let’s make sure we also admit the times “our side” has helped create/worsen these problems.
Btw, this has been one of my favorite finds since joining Substack, and it’s about how our reality truly IS mediated (created, you might say) by the meatsuit we inhabit:
The biggest damage that the Reagan administration did was to eviscerate antitrust enforcement under the influence of Robert Bork: this meant that it became OK for corporations to consolidate without limit and ruthlessly fleece their suppliers and employees, just so long as they offered low prices to consumers.
This likely played a part in making the current shape of the US electoral map, as most firms in the heartland were absorbed into conglomerates that were usually headquartered in coastal blue-state cities.
That was huge and, to my point, instead of reversing it, Clinton put that process into overdrive. For his part, Obama allowed something similar to happen in "tech", when he let, inter alia, Facebook become a monopoly of immeasurable power
Professor Krugman: and you didn't even mention the growing bird flu pandemic, which has claimd the lives of many many MANY MILLIONS of lives of domestic poultry (the egg-layers and buffalo wings suppliers), backyard flocks, and wildlife, and least some of which are endangered. nor did you mention the runaway measles epidemic, RSV, nor the re-emerging COVID pandemic, nor the overseas viruses (in Nigeria, for example) that are threatening local, national and global populations of humans and wildlife. with the orange toddler's nominations in place, these growing pandemic problems will only grow worse, but they can, are and WILL threaten global political stability. seriously, we are so screwed.
Wasn't Covid not so much a failure of Trump's United States as a failure of the entire Western World (minus Australia and NZ, which you could class as honorary East Asians) and perhaps Italy most of all?
It won’t come from elected officials. It must be the populace that takes action. Politicians are servants of a cushy class of rich folks who have other agendas.
Top Democrats will seek out the new money that is fueling Trump. They will begin to lecture the party on how we need to become MAGA lite.
Look to Vietnam for a pathway. If we reject this path bodily, the system will have lost the consent of the governed and will change or die. It’s bottom up, NOT top down.
Stop waiting for Oprah, Rachel Maddow or Michelle Obama to save you! Start making their lives uncomfortable and even miserable. Replace them with yourselves.
This. For too long the Dems have been happy to be dragged rightward in the GOP’s wake. All keen to provide quotable soundbites and talk the talk, but failing miserably to walk the walk or take decisive action, less they annoy their corporate masters.
The issue is not so much that Trump lied. It's that news outlets, NY Times included, presented his lies as fact with little or no analysis. They edited his rambling speeches to make him sound like he had a plan, like he was sane. The so-called liberal media constantly presented him as a legitimate leader, when, in fact, he was and is a childish lunatic.
I do believe that if they had stressed that he had NO economic plan, that he was lying constantly and that his speeches were mostly garbled rambling, more people would have seen what an incompetent fool he is.
Actually, it's not that they presented his lies as fact so much as they presented it as "he said she said", with no analysis whatsoever.
"We're neutral, fair and balanced. We'll just present you with who said what and let you be the judge."
In the meantime, Faux News, Newsmax and Breitbart, not to mention the right wing dominated anti-social media demonized anything and everything that anyone non-MAGA had to say. Even hard right-wingers like Liz Cheney were smeared as "far-left". Bizarre but true.
I know you write about the US, but yesterday here in Germany the conservative chancellor hopeful passed, right after an Auschwitz memorial hour in parliament, an anti-immigration law (that violates European treaties and quite possible the constitution) with the votes of the Neo-Nazi party. Today conservative commentators blamed the left for driving the conservatives into the arms of the Neonazis, because we are not quite at the stage of the US where the right wingers are open and proud when it comes to being racist and generally abominable. If they get away with this, they will get away with anything, including a coalition with the neo nazis after the February election. So "do not lose hope and oppose" is not an American message, it is, or at least it should be, a rallying cry for the rest of the world.
We must learn from history, or be doomed to repeat it. We pledge allegiance to the flag, not the fascists!
The problem with that is that we have any number of people who look at history and say to themselves "well down Adolf, I will certainly learn from that". Forgetting that there are people who are not misinformed or anything, but are evil because they really want to, is one reason opposition here is so feeble. We always assume first they are open to reason and compromise. Compromise has failed to a point where the conservatives now want to burn oil just because Greens and Social Democrats like to breathe oxygen, so clearly this is not working.
My German friends living in London were the first to take in a Ukrainian family when war broke out because ‘we have an obligation to show we have moved beyond our past’. A very different approach to Musk’s ‘no guilt, guys’. I deeply feel for the terrible moral turmoil this is unleashing in Germans who understand the stakes. You are right in saying we must stand together across nations in any way, no matter how small, that we can. This will often mean exchanging our natural reticence to antagonise and being prepared to say ‘that is cruel, wrong and causing our nation immense harm’.
Friedrich Merz has been such a downgrade from Angela Merkel.
This is so obvioius, but catty and shallow. You fail to explain what you mean.
I applaud your message. I'd like to ask of everyone who writes to drop the word "conservative" from our political discourse. Conservationists are conservatives. The politicians and their supporters are right-wing extremists or supporters of such and should be properly named.
A good way to keep active opposition to the Trump policies and plans in front of all Americans is to have an official Democrat chosen to counter each of the Republican cabinet members. Paul Krugman would be an excellent choice for the (anti-) Secretary of the Treasury Department representative. By having a specific Democrat who we could look to for clear opposition alternative plans and counter arguments to what is coming from the Trump administration, we would be able to constantly compare and contrast each issue in real time. Let’s do this, and Dr. Krugman, take on the role for the leader on economic issues now.
Tim Snyder has publically endorsed and encouraged the formation of a "Shadow Cabinet" which he states is a proven strategy with a history of success in other countries. Let's talk it up!
Indeed – why does the US not have a "Shadow Cabinet" as the UK does?
Since tRump 2.0 is dumber, meaner, and even more unhinged, it seems to me a great idea. Counter awful and irrational policies with rational alternatives. I hope the DNC elects a chairman this time who is a really great communicator.
Calling names is infantile, but it's easier than thinking, right?
Oh, they don't? Do they have the concept of official Opposition? With its Leader of the Opposition (LOTO)?
Imo? It's probably cause these individuals would then be in the national limelight and other democrats (read mostly governors and senators) wouldn't get to run for presidency as they would obviously not be a part of the shadow cabinet being busy with their IRL. That and it would reduce the power of the party bosses.
I wonder if it's that the UK (or at least England) is a unitary parliamentary democracy where there is only one important type of election at the national level (MPs) while the US is a federal presidential democracy where there are multiple types of office to be elected (state Representatives, state Senators, Governors, federal Representatives, federal Senators and President)?
Could be an additional reason. The legislative and executive being completely separated in US hurts effective execution of policies and perpetuates a two party system binary which helps no one.
That's by design. The whole idea is to prevent effective execution of policies. Ostensibly to avoid rocking the boat too much.
The strict two-party binary in the US isn't just down to being a presidential democracy (Latin America is full of multi-party presidential democracies): it's also down to FPTP as well as the existence of primary elections.
A grievous fault in the American system is the lack of a leader of the opposition, after a defeat and before the next election. The opposition has no focus, and has no time to build party consensus and identity and support. Who is the leader now of the Democrats? There is none. Just 20 or so ambitious (usually) men jockeying and fund-raising for a presidential run four years from now. Policy be damned.
The election for a new Chairman of the DNC is tomorrow, February 1. Pray 🙏🏼
Prayers are an excuse to do nothing.
Actually, the big problem is lack of unity in a "big tent" party.
Yes, a leader of the opposition would be great! It's not too late to revive the "mini-primary" idea and get one elected in a few weeks!
Yes!
If anyone feels like it, you can sign this petition to support this great idea and repost the following:
Democrats, we must get louder to respond forcefully to the administration and make them own their unpopular actions. Let's form a Democratic People's Cabinet, our best folks speaking out. Please sign and repost! Over 2.5K signed so far.
www.change.org/shadowcabinet
(see https://snyder.substack.com/p/shadow-cabinet)
I very much support this approach as I’ve seen mentioned in other S/S posts. What I’d like Paul to explain is why D’s are starting massive donation requests in light of this threat? Asking roughly half the 99% Americans who are D’s to fund a fight of the boss billionaires running the show!?!? Really folks? How much of my SS do I give to support D’s trying to save my remaining money for the bosses to take? Doesn’t it boil down to that?
No one explains it better than the Professor. OPPOSE. OPPOSE, OPPOSE. Thank you sir.
Absolutely, but how do we get this before the citizens when the radio stations, tv stations, newspapers and social media have been bought by the other side? When the government is being run by people who accuse the honest media of being the enemy and threaten them? Is substack reaching enough people? (Will it eventually be shutdown in the name of national security as TikTok was threatened).
The other side has two enormous advantages. It owns the media. It isn’t hampered by truth and facts. Oh, one more, it doesn’t care about people, just power and profiteering.
Every dog has its day. The script will soon flip again. Once it does, the public and the media will not turn back to him again. This is a foolish but temporary setback.🤞🍀✌️
"A coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the valiant taste of death but once. It seems to me most strange that men should fear, seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come." William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
More important things are going on now, Democrats and ethical Republicans, than your seat in Congress. Don't be cowards.
Love the quote. My sentiments exactly.
Don't be cowards.... Amen.
With a wannabe dictator in the White House, we need to stop singing (or standing for) The Star Spangled Banner, our national anthem, because we're no longer "free" and a "home of the brave". If anyone asks (and they will) we simply explain that anyone who chooses to kiss Trumps ring (or ass) are cowards, and the freedoms of our democracy for women, minorities, immigrants, and all but angry rich white guy republicons are being stolen in their constant and continuing quest for excessive profit. The cowards are stealing our freedom with their addiction to excessive profit.
"O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave" may once have been who we were, but not any longer and until we restore and perfect our democracy for all.
+1000% agree
Mr. Krugman is imploring Democratic Congresspeople to "flood the zone with FACTS"...
Meanwhile, both of my Senators in Michigan are voting FOR the dipshit nominees. Shocking, but unsurprising.
a lie
oh?, please take a moment and verify, google the voting records.
Why can’t we flood the zone with short videos on several subjects- we talk about low information voters - then let’s educate them on why certain things are important and why they matter? Things like separation of powers, need for a federal workforce that is non-partisan, separation of church and state, corporate welfare and control of so many aspects of our daily life. Not bashing the other side but explaining the importance of the Constitution - give them an opportunity and a means to understand instead of the divisive rhetoric that seems to permeate everything. The massive amount of money poured into political campaigns by corporations and the very rich and powerful - we have to counter the endless repetition of propaganda and lies with the truth in simple terms over and over again until it starts to sink in.
I think they should be trolls like maga dipshits are, as well.
Longtime journalist here. (I was let go a few months ago) This piece has inspired me--to rethink what I say, how I feel, how I write. Thank you
I just an ill-informed foreigner, but maybe the opposition need to reclaim the Americana card. Show how Trump is an anti-american traitor who is destroying the constitution and everything which actually made America great. Focus on classical liberal values; freedom, justice and the rule of law which historically united people. Really make America great again, a shining city on a hill where no-one can be illegal. Don't let the MAGA steal the flag, literally and figuratively.
Do we realize our country is being destroyed by a six year old revengeful bully? With every new proclamation, I am amazed how we are all like a frog in a pot of water coming to a boil. I am elderly, but figure I have nothing to lose except the country I love..
We're trying, we're trying.
Excellent point!!
Evil didn't begin in 2015.
The GOP has been voting in lockstep since Joe McCarthy and Nixon.
But von trump apparently won because voters lists have been nicely purged by maga morons and other corrupted trump scions and blind admirers. Oppose and oppose again! Bring these fascists to court.
Agree 100%. Oppose, Oppose, Oppose . Every system needs a good and vibrant opposition. That opposition will not be dictated to by the admin. It's our sacred duty as citizens in opposition to oppose in every way possible especially to unlawful orders. Do not cooperate. That's what the rank and file Democrats want to see. That our reps will FIGHT for us and US. If it is too hot for anyone they need to stay home.
Mahatma Gandhi coined the slogan "karenge ya marenge" ("do or die") on August 8, 1942" By 1947 the foreign power was OUT!
Well pointed out and well written, sir. That said, I wished the American people had done this eight years ago.
I wish we'd done it forty five years ago.
I've read today in two different places that people who voted for him are dismayed by the ICE push. That was encouraging.
Jeez Louise! Wake me up when MAGA has done more damage to the American people than Clinton’s deregulation of finance and the internet, than the Forever Wars (including the even more bipartisan War on Drugs), or than Obama “saving” the world economy by giving billions to the banks that had just brought it to the brink.
Mr. Krugman, you rock but I suggest you read MUCH more political science, as well as sociology, anthropology, and evolutionary bio/psych — may I recommend Jon Haidt’s “The Righteous Mind”? Talk about expertise! — in order to better understand the world you inhabit.
Donald Trump is a cancer, but like most cancers, he’s the RESULT of decades of shitty living. You can’t be mad at that tumor growing inside you if you’ve fed your body (and soul) nothing but trash for the past quarter century.
I get where you’re coming from but at the end of the day you’re being as tribal as the other side, while convincing yourself you’re on the “right side”, like all Sapiens do, myself included. This is exactly the kinda stuff we must guard against — as “rational” liberals — because it’s what, ultimately, tears countries apart.
You are right. The past decades have shown a rise of the right, with no resistance from the Democrats, like Obama, Biden etc. The huge inequality happened under their watch, and they did absolutely nothing to curb the power of the billionaire oligarchy. Nothing, NOTHING, with change meaningfully until this is addressed, and that will require a revolution in how the state is seen and how it functions, and for whom.
Not sure it’s about right/left anymore, but that’s THE issue: inequality. It’s what breads resentment, which makes authoritarianism attractive to so many.
Take it from someone who grew up in the Land of Inequality, Latin America. The reason this region has been fertile ground for all kinds of “populists”, from both left and right, is that inequality is, quite literally, our “original sin”.
This is the culmination of the "Reagan Revolution".
Somehow, the Reagan campaign hypnotized a large enough chunk of the American voting public to defeat liberalism for decades to come. Of course, the conservative information coup - including the likes of Rush Limbaugh - played a significant role.
It boils down to propaganda. Newspeak as it were.
True, but the context in which you get the Reagan Revolution was created in a bipartisan fashion, mainly, years of spending on Vietnam (highly inflationary); U.S. support for Israel, among other things that caused the oil embargoes (also, highly inflationary); and changes in how we governed media (ie, human communication), for example, allowing vertical integration of TV/radio stations, eliminating the Fairness Doctrine, etc.
Could we have anticipated those “unintended consequences”? I doubt it, but if hindsight really is 20/20, then let’s make sure we also admit the times “our side” has helped create/worsen these problems.
Btw, this has been one of my favorite finds since joining Substack, and it’s about how our reality truly IS mediated (created, you might say) by the meatsuit we inhabit:
https://open.substack.com/pub/conspicuouscognition
The biggest damage that the Reagan administration did was to eviscerate antitrust enforcement under the influence of Robert Bork: this meant that it became OK for corporations to consolidate without limit and ruthlessly fleece their suppliers and employees, just so long as they offered low prices to consumers.
This likely played a part in making the current shape of the US electoral map, as most firms in the heartland were absorbed into conglomerates that were usually headquartered in coastal blue-state cities.
That was huge and, to my point, instead of reversing it, Clinton put that process into overdrive. For his part, Obama allowed something similar to happen in "tech", when he let, inter alia, Facebook become a monopoly of immeasurable power
Professor Krugman: and you didn't even mention the growing bird flu pandemic, which has claimd the lives of many many MANY MILLIONS of lives of domestic poultry (the egg-layers and buffalo wings suppliers), backyard flocks, and wildlife, and least some of which are endangered. nor did you mention the runaway measles epidemic, RSV, nor the re-emerging COVID pandemic, nor the overseas viruses (in Nigeria, for example) that are threatening local, national and global populations of humans and wildlife. with the orange toddler's nominations in place, these growing pandemic problems will only grow worse, but they can, are and WILL threaten global political stability. seriously, we are so screwed.
and damn, but i forgot to mention all the mammals being infected and KILLED by bird flu, and also, the tuberculosis re-emergence amongst humans.
Glad you brought up bird flu. My understanding is it's another pandemic waiting to happen.
His Orange MAGA Majesty is himself a pandemic waiting to happen. A communicable stage IV malignancy.
Wasn't Covid not so much a failure of Trump's United States as a failure of the entire Western World (minus Australia and NZ, which you could class as honorary East Asians) and perhaps Italy most of all?
It won’t come from elected officials. It must be the populace that takes action. Politicians are servants of a cushy class of rich folks who have other agendas.
Top Democrats will seek out the new money that is fueling Trump. They will begin to lecture the party on how we need to become MAGA lite.
Look to Vietnam for a pathway. If we reject this path bodily, the system will have lost the consent of the governed and will change or die. It’s bottom up, NOT top down.
Stop waiting for Oprah, Rachel Maddow or Michelle Obama to save you! Start making their lives uncomfortable and even miserable. Replace them with yourselves.
This. For too long the Dems have been happy to be dragged rightward in the GOP’s wake. All keen to provide quotable soundbites and talk the talk, but failing miserably to walk the walk or take decisive action, less they annoy their corporate masters.
The issue is not so much that Trump lied. It's that news outlets, NY Times included, presented his lies as fact with little or no analysis. They edited his rambling speeches to make him sound like he had a plan, like he was sane. The so-called liberal media constantly presented him as a legitimate leader, when, in fact, he was and is a childish lunatic.
I do believe that if they had stressed that he had NO economic plan, that he was lying constantly and that his speeches were mostly garbled rambling, more people would have seen what an incompetent fool he is.
Yeah, sanewashing.
Actually, it's not that they presented his lies as fact so much as they presented it as "he said she said", with no analysis whatsoever.
"We're neutral, fair and balanced. We'll just present you with who said what and let you be the judge."
In the meantime, Faux News, Newsmax and Breitbart, not to mention the right wing dominated anti-social media demonized anything and everything that anyone non-MAGA had to say. Even hard right-wingers like Liz Cheney were smeared as "far-left". Bizarre but true.
This is false. There's plenty of opinion and analysis at NYT and other media outlets.