A recent newsletter from Charlie Sykes really resonated with me. Sykes began by exploring why he focused on political reporting–why he didn’t turn his face from the disastrous dismantling of the American Idea to more pleasant concerns. Why is he reporting on Trump and his merry band of morons and psychopaths, rather than listening to music, or learning a new language, or spending more time with his grandchildren?
As he wrote,
I’m at the age now when every twinge or ache makes me think: is this the thing that’s going to kill me? So why am I devoting so much of my time to writing about the stupid, the inane, and the futile? How many years do I have to squander on Donald F’ing Trump?
I really related to that question. Like Sykes, I’m at a “certain age.” And I am one of the very fortunate–I still really, really like my spouse of 45 years; my children (who have evidently overlooked my deficits as a parent while they were growing up) are attentive and caring; my grandchildren are perfect (okay, maybe I’m a bit over-fond…); our blended family is loving and compatible, and–at least until Trump destroys the robust economy he inherited from the Biden administration–we have enough money in our retirement funds to live comfortably. I should be happy all the time.
Instead–as regular readers undoubtedly recognize–I’m routinely livid. Like Sykes, I sometimes wonder why I allow the country’s fraught political situation to displace the good fortune for which I should be grateful, so I was interested in his conclusion, which rested on an essay by former political pundit Charles Krauthammer.
A man of Renaissance sensibilities, Krauthammer could have written about literally anything, but he chose to write about politics, because he knew that was the one thing we had to get right.
“In the end,” he wrote, “all the beautiful, elegant things in life, the things that I care about, the things that matter, depend on getting the politics right. Because in those societies where they get it wrong, everything else is destroyed, everything else is leveled.” Krauthammer was echoing John Adams who wrote: “I must study politics and war, so that our sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy.”
But Krauthammer had the added benefit of our own grim history.
“You can have the most advanced and efflorescent cultures,” he wrote. “Get your politics wrong, however, and everything stands to be swept away. This is not ancient history. This is Germany 1933.”
Sykes quotes Krauthammer for his observations about the extreme importance of governance and politics, pointing to examples like North Korea, “whose deranged Stalinist politics has created a land of stunning desolation and ugliness, both spiritual and material,” and to China’s Cultural Revolution, which he labeled a “sustained act of national self-immolation” that aimed “to destroy five millennia of Chinese culture.”
“The entire 20th Century with its mass political enthusiasms is a lesson in the supreme power of politics to produce ever-expanding circles of ruin. World War One not only killed more people than any previous war. The psychological shock of Europe’s senseless self inflicted devastation forever changed western sensibilities, practically overthrowing the classical arts, virtues, and modes of thought. The Russian Revolution and its imitators (Chinese, Cuban, Vietnamese, Cambodian) tried to atomize society so thoroughly — to war against the mediating structures that stand between the individual and the state — that the most basic bonds of family, faith, fellowship and conscience came to near dissolution.
“Of course, the greatest demonstration of the finality of politics is the Holocaust, which in less than a decade destroyed a millennium-old civilization, sweeping away not only 6 million souls but the institutions, the culture, the very tongue of the now vanished world of European Jewry.”
I think it was Santayana who said “Those who don’t learn history are doomed to repeat it.”
Those of us who did learn history–or at least a great deal of it–can choose to do one of two things. Those of us who have the option can burrow back into our comfortable lives and ignore the current fascist takeover, or we can join together with others who are determined to fight the malignant forces that threaten all of us, but especially those whose lives are more precarious.
When you think about it, unless you are a very self-engrossed person, it isn’t much of a choice.
I’ve been working with Central Indiana Indivisible. I hope those of you in the area will join me. If you can’t attend protests and participate in other resistance activities–and even if you can– you can support them financially here.
A comment from SE Wisconsin where Sykes was the most popular right wing pundit on talk radio for many years. During his tenure he vocally supported every fringe Republican who came along – Ron Johnson, Scott Walker, David Clarke – and incessantly repeated every racist and sexist trope for the “benefit” of his tribe. Did Sykes have a glorious epiphany once you-know-who was elected or was it simply time to change street corners? I have my opinion; you decide yours.
While I am not a fan of the United States of America, I am an American. Therefore, my identity is invested in this country, so I give a shit when either political party taints the country with poor decision making. We’ve been trending downward for many years. The more I study real history, including all the ugliness behind the shiny veneer presented by our propaganda media, I am ashamed of being an American.
When our oligarchy pushes the political class to make even worse decisions to benefit them, I take it personally. When I rose and fought what was happening in my community, I wasn’t congratulated by anyone—quite the opposite. I was punished for my insight into the billionaire oligarchy manipulating the community behind the scenes.
I even worked with the Tea Party group because they had broken down much of the corruption, but they purposely avoided the Republican Party. The Gannett-owned newspaper was the same. “All the corruption was from the Democratic Party.”
I got involved and became a muckraker, holding The Star Press, both political parties, and the oligarchy accountable. What’s the expression, “You know who rules over you when you’re not allowed to criticize them.”
It turns out that the local template became the same for our statehouse. I think I was blocked by every journalist at The Indy Star. None of them is employed there today. When I look at their comment section, I cannot help but laugh because they all accuse the Softbank-owned newspaper of being liberals.
The point is that I am too invested in what happens politically in our country because it’s mainly about power. We, the people, have very little. As our capitalist country has entered decay from the agreements made post-WW2, we had better participate, or we will become servants of the oligarchy. I believe this is the groundwork being laid right now in Washington and Indianapolis. I have a young daughter so yeah, I give a shit.
Riddle me this: every single article I’ve read about AI and Robots replacing our workforce, not a single one addresses the working class being replaced. What will we do for money, and what will we do with all that idle time?
Richarddalle,
I have to agree with you on your comment. I used to listen to Charlie Sykes quite a bit because he was popular in the Kenosha area! And also quite popular in Milwaukee. I mean I used to be in those areas quite a bit, and he was tuned in by many. You are right about what he used to rant about, whether he’s presently grown up because he realizes he was sitting on the wrong side of history? He’s just as responsible as many of those right wing acolytes who decided the tree they were barking up contained hidden predation. Oh well, you live and you learn? Did those predacious leopards change their spots? Or is it just smart politics? I believe krauthammer was in the same boat, a creature of Fox News pundantry Sometimes looking backwards makes the heart grow fonder, but were things really fond in the rearview mirror? Fanboys of Ronald Reagan, proves that they are/were no historical sage predictors. Hindsight is hard to get wrong. Foresight on the other hand, it’s hard to get right. Especially when you’re looking through partisan colored spectacles.
Todd,
Right on! Every robot acquired to replace a human worker, should be taxed the equivalency of the workers straight time pay. All of this financial windfall by the corporations, needs to be taxed. And in a manner that people will get a livable pension at least for that particular inflection point generation, and the other issues concerning financial sustenance would be worked on during that Period of time! Capitalism and its corporate cronies have a responsibility to the working class citizenry that they’ve taxed to death.
We are fulfilling the prophecies of Karl Marx with regard to capitalism run amok. Oh, but he was a communist, everyone says. Actually, he was an economist who saw and understood the vagaries of greed and unregulated capitalism. His launch into communism, however, was the wrong path absolutely.
The irony today with the Trump oligarchy is that, like a communist dictatorship, he alone is trying to direct what businesses do. His psychopathy is consuming what’s left of his pathetic life, but he and his politics are taking the nation down with it. Why? Because not enough people learned about their society, their country’s history and the rule of law. That brought about two of the worst presidential elections in our nation’s history: 2016 and 2024. Both of them had record low voter turnout.
That collective behavior tells the world that we are indeed a failing society and nation. What’s really, especially tragic to see is the glee demonstrated by those idiots doing the destroying. The glee demonstrated by Antonin Scalia in his Citizens United v. FEC decision is beyond reason and is pathetically tragic. Legalizing bribery in politics is the LAST thing one would want to have in ANY government structure. Alas, Republicans come to the rescue of reason, history and egalitarianism once again.
Hell, even Charlie Sykes sees that. That’s a canary in the political mineshaft that keeled over. It may be too late for Sykes or any of us to change the course of this current governmental Titanic before it hits the iceberg of self-destruction. Do what you can, before it’s too late. We don’t have any von Stauffenbergs.
For Todd: I like the mark Twain quote, “patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.” It has been a long time since our government has deserved our support.
The follow-up to Santayana’s quote is “those who do not want history taught intend to repeat it.”
Finally, if you are interested in joining a protest movement I suggest attending the public meeting sponsored by Live Free Indiana / Indy Action Coalition that will be held at the Light of the World Christian Church this Thursday, May 29, at 6:30.
Lots of folks like to complain about the problems of today but when it comes to actually showing up, not so many.
Remember the story DT told about the snake riding across the river on the turtle? The snake promised the turtle he wouldn’t bite him with his poisonous fangs, if he just gave him a ride across the river. When they got to the other side, the snake bit the turtle. As a turtle was dying, he asked why? You promised! The snake said, “What did you expect? I’m a snake!” When someone tells you who and what they are, believe them, leopards don’t change their spots either.
One single wooden stake in the form of martial law pounded through the heart of the political capitalistic vampire class, is all it will take to finish off this so-called experiment we live in. Goodbye rule of law, goodbye habeas corpus, goodbye the redress of grievance, goodbye civil rights, goodbye human rights, welcome the dark ages part Deux. Welcome to an unvaccinated, disease-ridden, famine infested, warring death pit! One that will remind most people of the prophesied Armageddon! So much for having faith in fellow humans to Love your neighbor, or, to do the right civilly moral thing. Instead we have those who constantly try and out narcissis each other, right over the precipice. Whether we are still alive when it happens, it’s going to be quite a show.
Mr. Sorg and Mr. Richardallen,
I have a Freedom of Speech question for you, who have both cited Wisconsin talk radio. Talk radio is apparently popular in Wisconsin, perhaps listened to while driving. Why is there a movement among car manufacturers to eliminate AM radio from automobiles?
The marginal cost to car manufacturers to provide an AM band is nil if they’re already providing an FM band radio. And not all manufacturers are eliminating AM. The local Toyota salesman said they would not consider eliminating AM radio because some of their customers want it. And AM might be the band to which all are instructed to tune during a Civil Defense emergency.
The removal of the AM band seems illogical from a car marketing position. So, I’m looking for an ulterior motive. Are some manufacturers being influenced by someone other than their customers to modify their assembly lines to eliminate AM radio? I’ve heard that some Wisconsin politicians, including some named above, have won election to office through talk radio campaigns, which might be broadcast primarily on AM radio bands.
Is eliminating AM radios from Wisconsin, and other states’, vehicles, a backhanded way of affecting elections? If so, is removal of the AM band actually a Freedom of Speech issue?
James, I never before knew of this addendum, of sorts: “The follow-up to Santayana’s quote is “those who do not want history taught intend to repeat it.” And, I like it, as I’m sure others here do.
“Stalinist politics has created a land of stunning desolation and ugliness, both spiritual and material….” I watched the movie “What the Hell Ever Happened to Blood, Sweat, and Tears,” yesterday (on the site called Tubi, if anyone else is interested). It contains footage of the group’s series of concerts behind the Iron Curtain, which show how desolate and ugly Romania, and other Stalinesque non-cultures were.
“It” matters because we are connected to all the people in this hurting country, those here now, and those coming, and to the extent that it is in our power, however little, we have a moral obligation to try to provide them with the best lives they can have.
Todd Smekens, what will we do? Build guillotines, perhaps.
If you’ve ever watched MSNBC,you might recognize several of their “analysts.”. In addition to Charlie Sykes, they have John Dowd, Michael Steele – who is host on Weeknites – and Joe Walsh, to name just a few of the disaffected Republicans who populate their airwaves.
When I saw Joe Walsh on a show I had to ask myself, how much of the old Joe, the hateful tea partier, was performative? It gets harder to believe that any of those Republican hard liners actually believe the things they say. They’re all concerned about the deficit, but they choose not to do the easiest thing to manage it, that is raise taxes on the rich. They’re playing reverse Robin Hood, taking from the poor and giving to the rich. They can see it. Why are they doing it? The only reason I can find is to curry favor with the Koch family and, of course, with Orange Jesus.
Melinda,
I’ve always believed that a rebellion will be what it takes to bring down the ruling class – guillotines might get their attention. We’ve had to do it once before, when we grew tired of being ruled by Theocratic Monarchies in London. Taxation without representation once again. In this case, it’s more about oligarchic theft. It was once done subtly, behind the scenes. Now, it’s in our face…why?
My answer is, “Who’s stopping them?”
If you look at the late-night insertions into the BBB that passed the House, they are neutering the courts, the last line of defense. There is also verbiage about elections. I expect they will cancel at least 2026 to see what happens.
Americans need to read about Peter Thiel and his company, Palantir. That’s not his only important company, but it’s relevant at the moment. He is using data from the federal government via DOGE to locate all the immigrants they want to deport. If Americans think that Trump is just targeting immigrants, look at what he’s doing to Harvard and anybody else who opposes him.
p.s. Palantir and Musk’s satellites are being used in Ukraine and Gaza to locate targets. I predict it’s coming to a city near us when we start revolting against the oppression, or building guillotines, because they are expecting it.
All of us believers are both similar and different. We are alike in basing our lives on the written word. We are different in our belief in a single primary person or persona.
My primary belief is in our Founding Documents and the thinking set down in them about the best system by which to govern societies, plus some of the thinking over the last 250 years improving the compromised original for that is an important thing: more thinking launched by the original improves it.
An example of that continuous thinking is found at sheilakennedy.net but like all advanced thinking some filtering is necessary to sort the credible from the in-credible, and that also happens there day there.
Based on all of that, the current problem is represented by the presence of DJT and his gang of outlaws plundering the country by continuing his long tradition of failures.
Of course like all beliefs this one has opposition. For instance some worship the Golden Calf idol Trump hides behind to represent his belief in currency; all that glitters is not gold. Recently he required us to buy him an $400,000,000 airplane to carry the Golden Calf in.
We will pay by pretending it will be AF1 someday followed by that bubble bursting requiring us to undue all that was done.
Or perhaps he is thinking of the return of Aristocracy and eternal rule by familial ties?
You never know and that’s the power of the lie.
For previous post; “there”=”by day”. Secret decoder ring.
I love the passionate informed debate here.
The totality of human knowledge is impossible for each of us to wrap our heads around, but it is, of course, possible for all of us to, and that’s the power of DEI. It takes the multiplicity of everyone who posts on this blog frequently to accomplish enough perspective on all we humans collectively know to establish some legitimacy.
It can’t be said how many teachers we each consumed knowledge from before we emerged ready to participate in world or even local or even our own affairs.
Of course that applies to all of our teachers too, going on back some 10,000 generations to a slightly different primate than those who came before grunting with abstract meaning behind it.
We are one species and the natural evolution of all the species and all the individuals who came before us.
AI developers see the possibility of getting all of that captured in memory chips choreographed by dynamic machine logic orchestrated by software and they are tantalisingly close to showing their baby off while learning.
This combined with machine muscle and dexterity could do most of our work for us some day but some of ours today.
That’s simply the way life works.
Gordon,
Shortwave communications on the AM band are actually illegal in the United States unless you have a short wave radio operators license. I mean you can have one, I have a communication device in my vehicle, AM and UHF, along with a couple of other selective frequencies. It’s always best to know what’s going on. You actually can pick up certain frequencies that are used in communication on your AM radio. Especially the older ones. The thing is, it seems like government is making AM shortwave radio a dedicated frequency for government and law enforcement, maybe a national emergency management frequency? I’m not exactly sure what they have planned, but if you are stopped with a portable short wave, you can be cited and it can be confiscated. It’s best to have an operator’s license for one to be on the safe side. AM radio frequency is amazingly resilient, especially with a device that boosts the signal. You can talk to someone on the other side of the country through an AM frequency shortwave. And if you want one, I would suggest you probably pick one up to be able to monitor what’s happening, and get a manual to learn where the emergency frequencies are, and those that are used by airplanes and military law enforcement monitoring. So, after all of that Gordon, I would say that it’s suspicious!
You are absolutely correct about a lot of that Pete! Also, so is Vernon.
The thing about the written word, is one has to have faith in it, one has to trust the source, one has to have the hope, the source is truthful, honest, stalwart, and withstands the test of time and scrutiny. Unfortunately, people fail to have belief in written word that is unfettered in its knowledge or awareness of current situations. This is understandable, when some of the written word we have faith in, is hundreds or even thousands of years old. Myself, I have faith in Scripture, because it’s been around for such a long period of time and withstood continuous assaults to destroy it throughout history. People will laugh, and say it’s just a myth, but when more secular evidence arises to prove The sheer veracity of it’s accuracy, you can’t turn a blind eye.
I hear (read) you John.
Faith is unique because we are all unique in DNA and when, where, and to whom we are born. That plus a minor amount of our choices led to our experiences from birth to now. It’s faith that guides our assignment of credibility in written, spoken, or artistic sources.
It’s essential to honor the knowledge that we each acquired on our journey through life. In fact we always are either learning or practicing what we are exposed to.
We are all also temporary manifestations of life. We are born, we learn and practice what we know, and then leave behind memories of ourselves in some people and what we have recorded of our knowledge more permanently.
But the totality of that recorded knowledge grows over time generation by generation.
Even knowledge has a best if used by date, especially applied technical knowledge.
What is immortal though is truth, like two like things plus two more of the same will always be a total of four like things.
We are life so we are constrained to grow organically and that is also true of the knowledge of life. We stand on the backs of 10,000 generations of ancestors.
I’m no Trumper, but Vern his life is not pathetic. He just received a $400 million airlplane; he was elected president; he attempts to control most aspects of our normal lives. Our lives are pathetic because he had enough votes to get there. The election was pathetic
I agree that we must continue to resist in any and all ways that we can.
My fear is that we are not repeating the Cultural Revolution, but that Trump’s sacking of America is like the 1258 sacking of Baghdad by the Mongols, along with the rise of Islamic, anti-intellectual fundamentalism [like Christian Nationalism here], led to the fall of the Abbasid’s Caliphate and the end of the “Golden Age of Islam”.
That is why we need to keep fighting. We will have a hard enough time repairing the damage, but if we don’t fight, it may be too difficult to repair
Sorry – pessimistic day
As for AM radio – Occam’s razor – stupidity
Someone said “nobody listens to AM radio anymore, so if we drop it, we save a dollar (or a dime or ten dollars) per car”
I remember when Ford decided to “save money” in the ’70s by replacing certain steel bolts with plastic. Once they were finished with the recalls over the broken bolts, they lost money. Stupidity reigns.