Last Friday, I visited Salt Lake City to kick off a really exciting new initiative I’ve begun with an unlikely partner, Utah’s Republican Governor Spencer Cox.
The biggest problem is wealth inequality. You have an entire staff at your disposal that can look up the relevant studies, but most Americans are being left behind - the middle class is disappering - which means people now can't afford housing, vacations, child care, and on and on.
The second largest problem is Christian Nationalism. Its stated goal is the replacement of democracy with theocratic autocracy. Many of your colleagues in government and SCOTUS are active leaders in the movement - especially Justice Alito and Mike Johnson - and there will never be healthcare, gender equality, LGBTQ rights, and on and on if they are only reserved for white Christian men. Equally as important to their movement is the anti-science educational model. The goal is biblical education leaving our entire adult population absolutely unable to function in a modern world. As well, they are preparing for the End Times which includes the destruction of the Jews and Muslims and so forth. THEY ARE ACTIVELY PROMOTING THE COMPLETE DOMINATION OF THE EARTH BY CHRISTIANS, AND THE END OF THE EARTH in preparation for Jesus' return.
You must address those two things as all others hinge on their resolution. We'll leave aside the fact that the GOP is now wholly backing fascism as its main platform. There is no band-aid solution for that.
Senator Murphy, you have demonstrated yourself to be a thoughtful and dedicated public servant. We need so many more like you. I am sorry to say your Republican colleagues have proven to be nothing more than spineless bootlickers acting in the service of just one, awful, terrible man, instead of the Constitution, which they all swore to preserve, protect, and defend. Unfortunately, I doubt much will change until the President’s unhinged decisions and policies start to visit great misery upon a good number of the people who support him. I hope I am wrong about that.
Easier said than done. The public is being manipulated by the media they consume. They have been the target of PsyOps for years. Culture wars are a great tool to distract from reality.
Yes, this seems to be a huge issue that is acknowledged but is not being dealt with by government. I have wondered for years why Fox hasn’t been held accountable for the lies and misinformation/disinformation they peddle. Government wants to leave people free to self govern what media they take in, but I feel like most people don’t have the necessary filtering abilities to protect themselves. Many conservatives have been brainwashed into thinking liberals hate them. This is becoming a self fulfilling prophecy as people ignore basic right and wrong, and are willing to vote against their own best interests as retaliation against liberals. They will vote against basic human rights that have been tagged as liberal. Media has driven the divide, and now it seems only intensifying economic pain will be what has the power to distract people away from their hate. I hope there doesn’t have to be too much pain and destruction before the shift happens.
I live in LA County. With all due respect Senator, your house is on fire. When your house is in fire you don't plant seeds in the garden and pick out new furniture. That's for much later. First, you institute your evacuation plan and make sure everyone is safe and out of harms way. Then, you fight like hell for what you have and call for help UNTIL THE FIRE IS OUT. Democratic Senators must lead and put this massive fire out.
Excellent idea and it’s about time, these kinds of discussions should be the benchmark for all parties in congress. Would love to see the work you produce actually become important bi-partisan legislation that actually benefits the American people. Thank you for starting these discussions.
So agree. Maybe I am remembering incorrectly. But, there was a better time of expression of ideas. Today, I am afraid to start a conversation with someone I don’t know. I use to enjoy having a friendly debate with people.
This conversation is desperately needed. I’m a proud Dem, and I understand, intellectually, what it means to have #privilege as an educated white male who is lucky to stay afloat in these days. But I also understand why a white East Texas farmer might wince hearing about privilege. Not from his perspective.
We need to find a way to speak to all who understand and accept that life may be a crap game, but no one should be allowed to load the dice.
That farmer in Texas probably grows a lot for both large commercial and needs his community to be able to buy from him as well via the weekly or monthly community lots of produce that help guarantee him sales and engagement. If he isn’t, other farmers in other states, have events and space seasonally for weddings etc. Something for him to consider.
We definitely need more of contact. The pandemic made a mess of our lives and we have to figure out what and how to reconnect more. History lessons showed that the Founding Fathers understood that religion in an earlier time in Europe had control of monarchies and tried to oversee and run countries. Hence, our constitutional system in which people can practice but it is meant to stay in places of worship and not in house of government—the separation clause that the mega churches and others are trying to overstep. We must make sure that the importance of that becomes “news”. The constitution must be read and posted so that we the people are informed by it with the signatures of its creators. The document must be secure in the National Archives, but copies are online etc.
Instead of posting the Ten Commandments in all schools, how about we post the Constitution? If Christian religious schools want to post the Ten Commandments, fine - but the Constitution also should be there.
Ms Myers, well said. The bedrock or our democracy is SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. We are free to practice our religion or no religion, but no religion should be in our classrooms. It goes against our Constitution!
It’s really difficult to find common ground if we exclude everyone who is not white, middle or upper class and fits our gender identity mold. DEI is the backbone for commonality. White Supremists are exclusive by nature.
You are beginning with the premise that the “GOP” is actually the GOP. It no longer is. It has become the enemy of all of America, Americanism, and even the world. How you are framing this is symbolic of how we got here, as if there are two parties working for us. There is not. What you are doing is a form of appeasement and that leads to failure. You cannot appease what has been retooled into tRumpism and MAGA. YOU MUST FIGHT THEM AT EVERY TURN. DO NOT GIVE THEM AN INCH MORE. Crush it. You are just playing into their hands and again playing by old rules that they take advantage of. I’m sorry to make the observation that you are contributing to making democracy appear weak. Read some Hopium Chronicles and maybe stop flailing around trying to help MAGAs round themselves off to entrench further.
Restoring the common good? Throw out Citizens United to start with. When billionaires have more power than our representatives, when foreign lobbyists control our foreign policy and the energy and military sectors of our corporate overseers demand fealty to other countries, we’re no longer a country. We are now nothing more than a holding company for dark money and criminal enterprises across the globe! See what happens when billionaires pay NO taxes. They are in charge. And the “politicians” work for them! Not us!
no. GOP is no longer a party…they have collapsed..we have seen that we can’t even count on “good” ones…Murkowski, Collins let us down in key confirmation votes..
The free market is efficient at allocating resources. However, there are many "externalities" that markets don't cover well. Moreover, network effects and other dynamics can lead to establishment of profit pools protected by "moats" that restrict competition. Government can do more to evaluate various examples of excessive profitability and insufficient competitive choices. I'd like to see more government use of financial analysis and understanding of profitability as a first step in this journey. That analysis would look at the factors (labor, capital, IP protection, etc.) that underpin competition, and outline examples where those factors have led to positions that enrich companies but not so much consumers. I'd also suggest looking outside the US for examples of how other advanced countries deal with those issues. My first "target industry" would be telecommunications and more specifically internet access. The pharmaceutical industry would be another good target.
Yes, Mr Klitgaard, insurance and Healthcare should be other big targets. The biggest problem is Reagan gutted the FCC, allowing Fox to spread lies, and the gutting of the FTC, thus allowing too many mergers which leads to price gouging. All large corporations are making billions but not paying fair wages or providing health insurance, and certainly not paying their fair share of taxes!
Hello, PEYTORILL, is your symbol the symbol for Masons? Just asking because my Dad, Granddad, both Uncles were Masons, and I'm a member of Eastern Star. If it isn't the Masonic symbol, never mind, and I apologize for inquiring about it.
This is all really cute but talking about unhappiness, disaffection, and disconnection sounds like gaslighting coming from the GOP, especially in Utah, where they gerrymandered us completely out of a vote. Oh never mind the rampant inequality, my clients are uninsured, some in abject poverty, and Cox’s administration is absolutely on board with Project 2025, cutting services and working to dismantle disability rights. But yeah let’s find ways to be “happy.” It’s toxic positivity Mormon bullshit. This is what Cox talks about because he can’t grow a pair and stand up to other Republicans. The chain of white boy command with ass kissing that goes all the way to the top— the orange orangutan. Fascism is the logical extension of everything the Republican party has worked for in the last 20 years. But thanks Cox. Yeah let’s find pretend ways to be happy without actually addressing any real underlying problems.
Yes, great points, I love the ideas of Americorps but, I haven’t seen it in action in a long time. I remember my nephew was in Americorps and helped in New Orleans building homes after Katrina. I remember the ideas of Teaching and med students working in rural areas instead of having to pay school loans, I think the right would like that.. I also think we need to make vocational school and community college a free option .. we are losing quite a bit of the handymen positions, construction with the onslaught of deportation..
The biggest problem is wealth inequality. You have an entire staff at your disposal that can look up the relevant studies, but most Americans are being left behind - the middle class is disappering - which means people now can't afford housing, vacations, child care, and on and on.
The second largest problem is Christian Nationalism. Its stated goal is the replacement of democracy with theocratic autocracy. Many of your colleagues in government and SCOTUS are active leaders in the movement - especially Justice Alito and Mike Johnson - and there will never be healthcare, gender equality, LGBTQ rights, and on and on if they are only reserved for white Christian men. Equally as important to their movement is the anti-science educational model. The goal is biblical education leaving our entire adult population absolutely unable to function in a modern world. As well, they are preparing for the End Times which includes the destruction of the Jews and Muslims and so forth. THEY ARE ACTIVELY PROMOTING THE COMPLETE DOMINATION OF THE EARTH BY CHRISTIANS, AND THE END OF THE EARTH in preparation for Jesus' return.
You must address those two things as all others hinge on their resolution. We'll leave aside the fact that the GOP is now wholly backing fascism as its main platform. There is no band-aid solution for that.
My kids are definitely not in the middle class anymore. They were when they were in our household but as independent adults absolutely not.
Right on!!!
Mr Rossi, you are spot on in your comments. Very well said!
Money. In. Politics.
Mr. Rossi for President. You get it!
They are equally vested in misogyny
Christian nationalism is not the tenants of real Christianity in a belief in God
It is not emotional and spiritual maturity.
Senator Murphy, you have demonstrated yourself to be a thoughtful and dedicated public servant. We need so many more like you. I am sorry to say your Republican colleagues have proven to be nothing more than spineless bootlickers acting in the service of just one, awful, terrible man, instead of the Constitution, which they all swore to preserve, protect, and defend. Unfortunately, I doubt much will change until the President’s unhinged decisions and policies start to visit great misery upon a good number of the people who support him. I hope I am wrong about that.
Chris: NOTHING SUBSTANTIAL WILL HAPPEN IN THIS EFFORT UNTIL trump and all of his accomplices are REMOVED from office! That’s the reality!
Easier said than done. The public is being manipulated by the media they consume. They have been the target of PsyOps for years. Culture wars are a great tool to distract from reality.
Yes, this seems to be a huge issue that is acknowledged but is not being dealt with by government. I have wondered for years why Fox hasn’t been held accountable for the lies and misinformation/disinformation they peddle. Government wants to leave people free to self govern what media they take in, but I feel like most people don’t have the necessary filtering abilities to protect themselves. Many conservatives have been brainwashed into thinking liberals hate them. This is becoming a self fulfilling prophecy as people ignore basic right and wrong, and are willing to vote against their own best interests as retaliation against liberals. They will vote against basic human rights that have been tagged as liberal. Media has driven the divide, and now it seems only intensifying economic pain will be what has the power to distract people away from their hate. I hope there doesn’t have to be too much pain and destruction before the shift happens.
I live in LA County. With all due respect Senator, your house is on fire. When your house is in fire you don't plant seeds in the garden and pick out new furniture. That's for much later. First, you institute your evacuation plan and make sure everyone is safe and out of harms way. Then, you fight like hell for what you have and call for help UNTIL THE FIRE IS OUT. Democratic Senators must lead and put this massive fire out.
I can’t forgive treason and insurrection. Or the mere tolerance of them.
Excellent idea and it’s about time, these kinds of discussions should be the benchmark for all parties in congress. Would love to see the work you produce actually become important bi-partisan legislation that actually benefits the American people. Thank you for starting these discussions.
So agree. Maybe I am remembering incorrectly. But, there was a better time of expression of ideas. Today, I am afraid to start a conversation with someone I don’t know. I use to enjoy having a friendly debate with people.
I second your comments!
This conversation is desperately needed. I’m a proud Dem, and I understand, intellectually, what it means to have #privilege as an educated white male who is lucky to stay afloat in these days. But I also understand why a white East Texas farmer might wince hearing about privilege. Not from his perspective.
We need to find a way to speak to all who understand and accept that life may be a crap game, but no one should be allowed to load the dice.
That farmer in Texas probably grows a lot for both large commercial and needs his community to be able to buy from him as well via the weekly or monthly community lots of produce that help guarantee him sales and engagement. If he isn’t, other farmers in other states, have events and space seasonally for weddings etc. Something for him to consider.
We definitely need more of contact. The pandemic made a mess of our lives and we have to figure out what and how to reconnect more. History lessons showed that the Founding Fathers understood that religion in an earlier time in Europe had control of monarchies and tried to oversee and run countries. Hence, our constitutional system in which people can practice but it is meant to stay in places of worship and not in house of government—the separation clause that the mega churches and others are trying to overstep. We must make sure that the importance of that becomes “news”. The constitution must be read and posted so that we the people are informed by it with the signatures of its creators. The document must be secure in the National Archives, but copies are online etc.
Instead of posting the Ten Commandments in all schools, how about we post the Constitution? If Christian religious schools want to post the Ten Commandments, fine - but the Constitution also should be there.
Ms Myers, well said. The bedrock or our democracy is SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. We are free to practice our religion or no religion, but no religion should be in our classrooms. It goes against our Constitution!
Very nice sentiment. I'm glad you are open to seeing another viewpoint. That's to your credit.
That said, I think we should buy LOCAL PRODUCE as much as possible. Find out when your local farmer's market is and check it out. it can be a win-win!
Thank you!
Be well!
Christy🇺🇲❤️🕊
It’s really difficult to find common ground if we exclude everyone who is not white, middle or upper class and fits our gender identity mold. DEI is the backbone for commonality. White Supremists are exclusive by nature.
Sadly.. the right is corrupted and spineless
You are beginning with the premise that the “GOP” is actually the GOP. It no longer is. It has become the enemy of all of America, Americanism, and even the world. How you are framing this is symbolic of how we got here, as if there are two parties working for us. There is not. What you are doing is a form of appeasement and that leads to failure. You cannot appease what has been retooled into tRumpism and MAGA. YOU MUST FIGHT THEM AT EVERY TURN. DO NOT GIVE THEM AN INCH MORE. Crush it. You are just playing into their hands and again playing by old rules that they take advantage of. I’m sorry to make the observation that you are contributing to making democracy appear weak. Read some Hopium Chronicles and maybe stop flailing around trying to help MAGAs round themselves off to entrench further.
Restoring the common good? Throw out Citizens United to start with. When billionaires have more power than our representatives, when foreign lobbyists control our foreign policy and the energy and military sectors of our corporate overseers demand fealty to other countries, we’re no longer a country. We are now nothing more than a holding company for dark money and criminal enterprises across the globe! See what happens when billionaires pay NO taxes. They are in charge. And the “politicians” work for them! Not us!
no. GOP is no longer a party…they have collapsed..we have seen that we can’t even count on “good” ones…Murkowski, Collins let us down in key confirmation votes..
The free market is efficient at allocating resources. However, there are many "externalities" that markets don't cover well. Moreover, network effects and other dynamics can lead to establishment of profit pools protected by "moats" that restrict competition. Government can do more to evaluate various examples of excessive profitability and insufficient competitive choices. I'd like to see more government use of financial analysis and understanding of profitability as a first step in this journey. That analysis would look at the factors (labor, capital, IP protection, etc.) that underpin competition, and outline examples where those factors have led to positions that enrich companies but not so much consumers. I'd also suggest looking outside the US for examples of how other advanced countries deal with those issues. My first "target industry" would be telecommunications and more specifically internet access. The pharmaceutical industry would be another good target.
Yes, Mr Klitgaard, insurance and Healthcare should be other big targets. The biggest problem is Reagan gutted the FCC, allowing Fox to spread lies, and the gutting of the FTC, thus allowing too many mergers which leads to price gouging. All large corporations are making billions but not paying fair wages or providing health insurance, and certainly not paying their fair share of taxes!
On target!!!!
Not if the media industrial complex corporations remain antifederalist.
Hello, PEYTORILL, is your symbol the symbol for Masons? Just asking because my Dad, Granddad, both Uncles were Masons, and I'm a member of Eastern Star. If it isn't the Masonic symbol, never mind, and I apologize for inquiring about it.
This is all really cute but talking about unhappiness, disaffection, and disconnection sounds like gaslighting coming from the GOP, especially in Utah, where they gerrymandered us completely out of a vote. Oh never mind the rampant inequality, my clients are uninsured, some in abject poverty, and Cox’s administration is absolutely on board with Project 2025, cutting services and working to dismantle disability rights. But yeah let’s find ways to be “happy.” It’s toxic positivity Mormon bullshit. This is what Cox talks about because he can’t grow a pair and stand up to other Republicans. The chain of white boy command with ass kissing that goes all the way to the top— the orange orangutan. Fascism is the logical extension of everything the Republican party has worked for in the last 20 years. But thanks Cox. Yeah let’s find pretend ways to be happy without actually addressing any real underlying problems.
Spot on!
Yes, great points, I love the ideas of Americorps but, I haven’t seen it in action in a long time. I remember my nephew was in Americorps and helped in New Orleans building homes after Katrina. I remember the ideas of Teaching and med students working in rural areas instead of having to pay school loans, I think the right would like that.. I also think we need to make vocational school and community college a free option .. we are losing quite a bit of the handymen positions, construction with the onslaught of deportation..