I really think you should run for President. You understand people here and abroad. Minimum Wage, Healthcare care, The Middle East, the Palestinian cause, you make sense. Bravo!
I only offer one screening tool in choosing those who will run for the position of leadership from POTUS down the line -- Let's stop electing and being dazzled by narcissists. Let's look beyond race, creed and sexual orientation and other variables that make each of us an individual not a clone. Equality is key for a democracy to mature and reach its full potential in serving the people. Diversity is in fact America's superpower. If we continue to look at less than 50% of those eligible, we are doomed. I grieve all the talent over the past 250 years that was not allowed to serve and never known, never known! Abigail Adams in her letter to John Adams away writing the Constitution warned against giving power to men alone. It is a fascinating letter that has been summed up in three words which does it a disservice "Remember the ladies." Read the letter. It should be required reading in fact.
Agreed. But a crisis is typically a gift and a chance for growth. I think this crisis has forced upon the entire nation and the world a maturation. We are not the only ones affected. And our allies are not seeing us other than in a position they don’t want to be in which has doubled up their defense against the same thing happening to their country. Also, their support is so comforting much like the abused spouse knowing others believe you are the victim and will stand up for you and believe you — such is America today abused — but our allied nations the people are mirroring our protests and expressing no malice toward us. Did you read the letter to America from the Ambassador to Ukraine? There are so many examples they support us are watching and damned impressed we hit the streets as we have done. We are fighting for the world as much as our children here. I am honored to be in this time. The only thing we need to do is not loose faith, unite and do the work. There is much to be done. All hands on deck. America has grown up and the speed of growth is moving forward exponentially. We will prevail if we stay united and project courage not despair. Take a day off or a week — I took three weeks last winter. But then get busy. “I won’t be afraid just as long as you stand by me. Oh, stand by me.” www.indivisible
Could you please share a link to Abigail Adams letter to John Adams?
The difference between 1770’s and 2020’s maybe that women are no longer asking just to be remembered by the male power brokers, we are asking all Americans to unite and turn around for the sake of our childrn, our country, and the future of our planet. We are standing TAULL (Turn Around Unite for Lasting Legacy).
Below is one letter Braintree March 31, 1776, ABIGAIL ADAMS to JOHN ADAMS which is the one Abigail uses the phrase so many have heard but have no knowledge of the context “Remember the ladies” and unfortunately I am blocked and unable to leave a link to the full archives inside the post you sent but google: “THE MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY (founded 1791) ADAMS FAMLIY PAPERS (an electronic archive)” for the full experience of all the letters she wrote to John Adams.
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If I may comment, I am personally both inspired and anchored by Abigail Adam’s prescience in trying to sway her spouse John Adams to influence the writing of the Declaration of Independence. This was a woman of true genius. She handled everything while her spouse was running and hiding from the King with a bounty on his head to be hung if caught.
The founders of our nation never stayed in one place for very long for they were hunted. And none saw what they were doing as a career unlike today’s politicians who are still not counted out even if they are brain dead literally. The founding fathers yearned to be home “on their farm” but willing to die for freedom and an idea, which is democracy built on equality.
Abigail Adams could see women must play a part and share equally in the power men were afforded without question in building our new nation, which at that time was an idea (an experiment) that appealed to a society long separated from England by distance and already governing themselves.
I suspect she also saw that much of what needed to be done was beyond many men without the help of women. It was high time in her mind that women step away from being “the woman behind the man” and instead be seen as equal.
As a woman myself I understand and know as surely as I would have known if speaking with her that her motivation was not to yield power for the sake of power but to get the job done right for the sake of the children and those who come after — which is us. Women are collaborative and fierce. Why not give them the job of leadership?
The letter below is where Abigail Adams warned John Adams about the nature of men. What strikes me is if the founding fathers heard and then acted to make their women as equal as the female natives of this land were inside their tribes our lives would be different today for our nation would have grown in leaps and bounds to reach its full potential in serving the people.
Instead, the seeds of prejudice against women and so many classes of human beings were planted into the framework of our new nation and grew very deep roots that could have been pulled from the fertile ground with the great document our Declaration of Independence.
People today I suspect don’t even know why they reject the idea of a woman or anyone not white male in the position of leadership and power. It appears to me to be “yes” thoughtless, but for the most part a visceral response that is baked into our DNA.
It may sound trite, but I have observed when it comes to looking to a woman as a potential leader it rarely happens — and if it does not easily because men “hate” women in power and women “hate” women in power as well. If we recognized it, united and thought for ourselves, it would be a good thing for our futures and the wellbeing of our children.
More importantly, democracy cannot survive without equality. Equality is the key to a thriving democracy, as is maturity in the general population — not necessarily higher education maturation. We need adults on the ground and need to choose them for leaders not narcissists. Democracy will surely die on the vine if placed in the hands of a population that has not reached maturation in thought and deed.
And this nation’s growing diversity is our superpower. No matter how “different” we are from each other we share so much in common and have so much to learn from one another. To me our diversity is rich and much like a banquet laid out before us to enjoy. The different cultures and languages and histories rooted in shared values with all of us here living in America, and the willingness to die for our children.
Why would anyone reject such a jewel as is our diversity? Because the enemy (oligarchs, corporations, SCOTUS, politicians in the pocket of lobbyists and even other nations who interfere with our elections) will not benefit if we are united and treat each other equally. Pure and simple.
Trillions were invested to divide us, and it is rising again as we head into the elections. Mainstream media is at this time so blatantly using their platform to divide us once again. Have you noticed every other sentence has the word “communism” imbedded.
Why? Because the new strong, educated, experienced and passionate to serve our country are winning and doing so without any support from the one percent and lobbyists. And, in this country many don’t know the difference between a Democrat, Republican, Socialist, Communist, Trumpism or Democratic Socialist. We need to grow up. Do a google search accessible by the phone glued to your hand! Get educated!
But getting back to why is our enemy so focused on dividing us? They are afraid of one thing. They are afraid we will discover how magnificent we are in our diversity and how much we have in common. They are afraid we will see how magnificent we are and how much we have to offer each other.
I think it is empowering to know of their fear. It reveals their flank so let’s take aim. It also reveals why they spend so much time and money crafting how to divide us. Their deepest fear is uncovered by their very investment in dividing us. They are afraid and should be afraid of the power of a united people. Look to Ukraine! They have Putin on the run!
That is why we must unite and work to united. Calm down, be patient with each other for we are getting close and in fact our enemy is losing, and recognize we are being manipulated once again. Hold tight! Carry on!
But I do see rumblings on all the platforms and arguments started like a brush fire triggered by deliberate manipulation of the messages force fed us by mainstream corporate/oligarch owned media. Shut it down. Don’t take the click bait. The main focus is a united front. Walk away from any arguments and don’t engage in any that cross your path. Think of it as brush fires. The best way to kill a fire is give it no oxygen.
My best source for unbiased extraordinary worldwide coverage written by excellent and dedicated journalists under fire is THE KYIV INDEPENDENT out of Ukraine by the way. I recommend it.
As promised before I forget below is a quote from the letter and below that a link to the entire site. Enjoy reading it and then sit back and dream feeling a connection with our sister “Abigail Adams” who is still reaching out to us spanning 250 years. The words misspelled are not so much as they represent the manner of writing and spelling at the time.
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Braintree March 31, 1776, ABIGAIL ADAMS to JOHN ADAMS “I long to hear that you have declared an independency -- and by the way in the new Code of Laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make I desire you would Remember the Ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors.
Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies, we are determined to foment a Rebellion and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation.
That your Sex are Naturally Tyrannical is a Truth so thoroughly established as to admit of no dispute, but such of you as wish to be happy willingly give up the harsh title of Master for the more tender and endearing one of Friend. Why then, not put it out of the power of the vicious and the Lawless to use us with cruelty and indignity with impunity.
Men of Sense in all Ages abhor those customs which treat us only as the vassals of your Sex. Regard us then as Beings placed by providence under your protection and in imitation of the Supreme Being make use of that power only for our happiness.”
Women by nature and necessity in order to survive and see to it their children thrive no matter deprivation, abuse and less acceptance or compensation in the work force are collaborative.
The demographics not holding “all the power” have incorporated into their very DNA coping skills not just for survival but “breakthrough” greatness — which when it occurs the world and mainstream media respond as if it is nothing short of an “anomaly” much like a “pig talking” not a human being fulfilling their full potential despite setbacks and the burden of prejudice.
Collaboration partnered with equality and diversity are the tickets to progress. Let us in, America! Open the door and shake off your visceral baked in prejudice which has left us and future generations with a stagnant pool of less than 50% of all of us for which we without blinking or discernment decade after decade hand over our democracy and great power.
They have shown themselves to be tyrants. Why does that surprise you? Own it and change it up so eligible and experienced candidates who are fully capable as well as have shown themselves to be focused on serving “we the people” and our children not oligarchs and corporations are standing by willing, ready and able to serve us, the people.
It is not hard. A short period of deep self-reflection will remove the chains of prejudice and in turn save the world. Let us in so we may share and lead in the incorporation of collaboration to get all the agenda items dispensed with quickly and then move on to even higher goals that will seed exponential growth to benefit the future of our children.
Equality is key. Diversity is our superpower. A people united hold formidable power. A power so great it can in short order reshape the future to serve the greater good and foster change that will speed up our democracy achieving nothing less than its full potential to serve us, the people and our children.
Is that Communism? Is that strictly Socialism? No? Anyone who believes it or more accurately are so gullibly swayed by corporate mainstream media into believing it are misinformed.
For in fact Democratic Socialist candidates coming forward with what are actually “old” ideas based in common sense and crafted to serve us, the long ill-served people and our children are far and away NOT strictly Socialism or Communism or a cabal of Russian agents.
And all those who will not look closer versus showing their collective ignorance should throw some cold water on their collective heads.
Then grab a towel, dry off and reflect on what you have done to date in your faux fear triggered by the pummeling of a manipulative mainstream media into seeing fellow Americans as a threat because they look different or are of a different gender, race, creed or background. Look at what you have done!
You have relinquished our democracy and opened the door to the most corrupt administration backed by SCOTUS that is taking and will take everything, everything including the futures of your children. Look at what you have done.
Then give yourself another ice bath and find out why choosing the best of the best of 100% of us makes you feel uncomfortable. I offer it is a baked in visceral response for most of you and the rest? Well, whatever it may have been has morphed into your conscience and is a vile choice called hate.
Not yet ready to take part in guiding our democracy from its current status on hospice onto a path of extraordinary heights in serving mankind which in turn serves everyone?
It’s truly okay for timing is everything in life. And if it is all too much for any of you to change your gnarly nature and rigidity in thought resulting is what is demonstrably a clear and present danger to our country’s future then stay where you are.
We wish you no harm but must now leave you stuck in your malformed position, which is damning the future of all children here and across the globe.
You may stay, of course, but please for the love of all that is good in the world take your inability to grow as a human being and move to the back row where you may listen, watch and learn. Thank you very much.
Done. Posted the letter in question and info on how to find the source in a post just sent to you. Let’s keep up the conversation. I am enjoying the chance to share thoughts and experiences.
It has always been so. Strong women influence the direction of the government, and there are more strong women alive today than ever! We just need to unite and get active. At the least, help your male friends and family members knock on doors, and all of us together help our conservative neighbors see the truth and the urgency of this moment! Our government has been overtaken by corruption.
I was “feeling this moment” of connecting with one of “The Lodge Women” here on substack so just for fun I looked up my common ancestor with Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. which led me to discover MANY generations of strong American women with many different last names! All of these strong American women ancestors have MANY MANY strong American women descendants alive now. We need to feel our common strength again right here and right now in USA! I am with you on climate. Without a livable climate for the future, and a livable society, all of our other rights don't matter. We need to unite, and we need to fight for our future together. Nothing stands in our way but criminals and corruption.
It is simple. We need stay united and then work to “dethrone” SCOTUS and then push Congress to do what we want to happen.
Read “THE DAY AFTER” written by Brian Tyler Cohen just published where it is laid out step by step what we need to get done when the current regime is packing and running, eating each other on the way, backs against a wall.
Everything is possible just thoroughly obstructed. We are the richest country in the world with unlimited resources and a magnificent diverse population grounded in shared values.
We are in charge, we the people. We must own that we have neglected our civic duties and were adrift in the atmosphere of fear and hate and division. But that is yesterday. We understand so much now for we lived it. We are learning when we unite stuff gets done. Like dominoes one victory after another around the nation in response to everyone getting out on the streets.
Technology has facilitated our revolution. But be forewarned it will get ugly and dividing us is our enemy’s only chance to regain the power they want to serve themselves not the greater good or our children. They will be putting up a good fight.
We cannot let our enemy divide us. Walk away from the skirmishes that will be building even amongst ourselves. They are like brush fires and the best response to a fire is to not give it oxygen.
And know our enemy never sleeps and are desperate. And remember they hide in the thick corporation/oligarch infused brush of mainstream media. Be careful what you consume in the news. Do not engage where there is argument and hate. That is the laboratory of our enemy run away from it.
Save yourself find us and unite for we need you. We need each other. Everyone has something to offer this cause. Find your tribe and show up. There is one truth above all which is it is only in uniting will we prevail and save this world for our children.
Senator Murphy, thank you! Our first challenge is to put big money in its place! There must be a limit to how much money either party receives from Big money special interest and lobbyists!
In the sixties the COLA matched income. In this century the COLA does not match the income because the COLA has never been changed. And that is by design no accident.
Of course not. Those naughty Sixties! Peace, love, loud music, silly ideas about equality — must extinguish all hope. Dumb white men in control, that’s the ticket!
I hold no grudge against men. I do grieve, however, the baked-in visceral response to the idea anyone other than a man is not palatable in our society to hold power or a position of leadership. It is almost unconscious and knee jerk.
Prejudice seeded 250 years ago when our nation was founded despite the warning of an extraordinary woman who was facing the reality she, even after the signing of the Constitution, had no right to own land or vote.
My mother had no right to what we take for granted -- autonomy over her own body for one -- if a woman wanted any medical intervention that would give her control over her own health and future the doctor would first confer with her husband.
My mother was not allowed credit or a mortgage or a loan or a credit card. And her mother was not born with the right to vote. I lived as a young woman where it was legal to be told despite my education and eligibility for a job "we are not hiring women for that position". I lived in a time where when my aptitude test suggested an aptitude to study engineering was told that "there are no female engineers" spoken by an ignorant counselor who directed me to find a job as a secretary upon graduation.
Visceral and baked in which will make if very easy for outside interests to displace the rights of all of us — all of us — starting with the rights of immigrants to the rights of blacks which will follow to include the rights of women. That is our future if we don't unite and get out of our comfort zones and engage. It is so clear to me.
But, united and only united and in great numbers we hold the power to right this ship. No one is coming to save us. We are the "one" we have been waiting for, but equality is key and diversity is our superpower.
I also had difficulty getting a job in a male only job. I paint pictures. I worked for myself for awhile painting album covers in San Francisco in the early 70’s. When my work didn’t pay enough to support my family as a single mother I went to shops that painted billboards. All men. Over and over I went to see if I could get a job there. He said no skeptical of my gender. He knew I could do the work, but repeatedly turned me down. The last time I went he hired me. Great news! A union job with good benefits and pay. I was ecstatic!
There was one bathroom and changing area. I tried it cautiously. It was too much so I went upstairs where there was a woman’s bathroom. I worked at getting along despite the cat calls and bad behavior.
For ten years I worked there until it I felt a pit in my stomach every morning when I arrived. It became unbearable for me to continue so I filed a claim of sexual harassment. It was difficult because I loved my job.
During my time there, I finished my BA degree so I could move on. I don’t regret my job there and liked most of the men that worked there, but wow it was hard working in a men’s environment.
I began teaching middle school which was quite the challenge but rewarding. Now retired I paint my own paintings and sell them in a nearby gallery. I don’t make a lot but it’s enough with social security and a pension.
Women had a tough time back then in a man’s world. Things are much better now. I worry for my grandchildren and how they will be able to buy a house and make enough to live on. For them that unequal pay is so much harder now. We need to raise the minimum wage and tax the rich as they did in the 70’s.
Thank you Senator. But first we need to tax the billionaires and trillionaires. That money would go a long way to get our Nation on her feet. At 77, retired teacher, I pay my fair share, but out is past time for the fat cats. Thanks for what you do and for working toward a more than minimum wage. We are proud to represent our state.
We need a National Minimum Wage Law, is not possible to ask people to be good citizens when they just make 8 or 9 dollars per hour. Even 15 dollars means nothing, you are basically starving. This has to stop.
It should be automatically raised when the cost of living goes up. To neglect doing that in congress should be an impeachable offense, or a reason to launch a recall on any one in congress refusing to raise it.
I just finished reading your latest book "Crisis of the Common Good" and it impressed me so much that I have recommended my entire family and several friends read it! Thank you for your service!
Ditto that!!! But remember no one is coming to save us and no one person can do the job. To think so or seek it is the mindset of a servant to a King. We are the "one" we have been looking for in this crisis. You and me and all of us were naive to who our neighbors across the country were but have met on the streets and are emboldened by our magnificence when united. Don't look for a savior look to yourself, ourselves. It is us in fact who are in charge, but we have for the most part allowed ourselves to be divided -- never again!
OBTW increasing the Federal minimum wage to $25 per hour is an excellent first step too! This should alleviate those concerned about “socialism”, just pay Americans a living wage and let their American ingenuity do the rest!
Yup thanks for explaining what I've bern thing saying the last 50yrs when ever I can to anyone I can.
It is time to vote into office everywhere Democratic Socialists. Take a look at our European neighbors & see how well it has done for their Happy cared for citizens.who doesn't want a well functioning society, w good infrastructure healthy & educated peoples? AND a representative government that looks like the population?
51% women& a colorful group exactly representing the % of people as they are in our population?
Jesus , I'm so tires of waiting for sanity, I will probably doe before I see America be smart. ARRRGGHHHHH
Democrats in 2024: We want to tax billionaires more! And Enact price gouging laws!
Lose the White House and Both Chambers of Congress
Democrats in 2026: Let’s elect democratic socialists who want to dismantle capitalism and usher in public ownership of major industries!
Wow, democrats have seriously learned nothing. You will be annihilated if you do that lol
We already operate on the “Nordic model” of democratic socialism, and it’s far far superior - and accepted as long as it’s not spoken by name. In the American version, you’re pushing for the end of capitalism because it’s “evil” lol And it’s not. It pays for $3 trillion a year in programs to the poor. You really think your DoorDash driver is going to operate morally and competently?
Big no. Private ownership of business, strong welfare state = Nordic model. We’ve already got it. Just have to get back to regulating capitalism again.
This is awesome when it comes to huge corporations like Wal Mart, which can absolutely afford to pay their workers more. But for many small businesses, a $25 / hour minimum wage requirement would be unsustainable. Does the bill make exceptions for businesses under a certain size?
I think there shouldn’t be any exceptions for anyone or any business type. Farm labor, waitressing, etc. you have to remember that those businesses customers will have more money to spend, so if they are running a good business they can generate more revenue per employee and continue operating.
California raised its minimum wages for food workers and a bunch of chain restaurants caught against it saying that they could continue operating in those states because of it. None have left, most have expanded.
You have to remember that there are numerous states that still use the federal minimum wage of $7.25 / hour. If a small business—I don't mean a chain restaurant company; I mean an actual mom and pop business—had to go from that to $25/hour in one fell swoop, it could easily put them out of business before the effects of higher wages across the board kicked in. A phased approach might make more sense.
I haven’t seen the proposed legislation, but I would imagine it includes a phased rollout. You are correct that an immediate tripling of wages could be hard to deal with from a cash flow standpoint.
Great question! We surely don’t want to bankrupt “mom & pop”, start-ups and other small businesses, thereby allowing the Walmart behemoth’s further opportunity to dominate. I’m not savvy about tax codes to offer possible solutions raising minimum wage across the board. Our Capitalist system and complex tax codes would seem to severely limit simple solutions. That said, Senator Murphy, you have my full support working to close the egregious wage/earnings gap.
Let’s get it done!!! Mamdani doctrine (raising taxes on rich to fund the less fortunate) working splendidly at the moment on the unique island of Manhattan. Time will tell if billionaire class pulls up stakes and moves on. Generally, the billionaire class writ large is either corrupt and/or savvy enough to game the system to grow their fortunes and grossly minimize their taxes. Call me skeptical. But please prove me wrong!
There’s been stories of millionaires and billionaires leaving manhattan due to taxes and other policies for at least the last 40 years. The number of each has only grown over time. There are some things that can only be had in a city like New York.
Tax the rich. Set an asset tax of 90% on all wealth above 1 billion. Set a tax penalty on corporations that pay their executives insanely high wages compared to the common worker. Make it so that they reinvest in growing the business and paying their employees a fair wage instead of just trying to extract the most profits possible.
You’ve got the symptoms right - the product of the economy has been shifted up relentlessly during the last 45 years (“the Reagan Dark Age of Trickle Up”). But while raising the minimum wage is a good first step, a lot more is needed: busting monopolies and controlling them much more strongly, price controls, taxing stock transactions, taxing non-wage income, constraints on investors buying stuff (like housing), make health insurance non-profit again, kill pharmacy benefit middlemen, control drug prices, and lots of stuff that I’m not smart enough to come up with.
But I’m heartened to hear a prominent Democrat talk about the disaster that trickle up has been. It is time for a political sea change back to a fundamental belief that strong government is a key part of the solution, not the problem, and that the free market is not the answer to everything.
Hear me out. Some small employers would struggle to keep all of their employees at that level, BUT, rather than calling that a reason to not do it, the solution should be a national fund that supports small businesses so that they CAN pay their employees a living wage. Why should employees have to apply to the federal government for assistance to keep them out of poverty? Let legitimate local businesses get the support that they deserve, and in the process of applying for that support they should have to demonstrate that they are sharing the profits of their business much more equally!
A realistic minimum wage, like you suggest - and potentially Universal Basic Income plus child payments (and reform the confusing system we have now of various subsidies and welfare approaches), and a healthcare system free at the point of use - and it would look like much of Europe which has excellent quality of life and people happier with their lives than we see in surveys of the US.
Senator Murphy, You are the leader we need right now. I follow you regularly & I live in Montana, a red state that has a history of being purple. You have followers everywhere & I hope your movement gains momentum & speed as we race towards the Midterms. May you & your principles prevail!
I would really like to see a concrete plan, a working and living document, with actual bills that can and will be proposed, steps that can and will be taken, including ways for us, as voters, to track progress toward our shared goals. It seems too much of the Democratic response has been ‘strongly worded statements’, not substantive action.
I really think you should run for President. You understand people here and abroad. Minimum Wage, Healthcare care, The Middle East, the Palestinian cause, you make sense. Bravo!
100% Agree!
Mr Murphy would be an excellent president.
I only offer one screening tool in choosing those who will run for the position of leadership from POTUS down the line -- Let's stop electing and being dazzled by narcissists. Let's look beyond race, creed and sexual orientation and other variables that make each of us an individual not a clone. Equality is key for a democracy to mature and reach its full potential in serving the people. Diversity is in fact America's superpower. If we continue to look at less than 50% of those eligible, we are doomed. I grieve all the talent over the past 250 years that was not allowed to serve and never known, never known! Abigail Adams in her letter to John Adams away writing the Constitution warned against giving power to men alone. It is a fascinating letter that has been summed up in three words which does it a disservice "Remember the ladies." Read the letter. It should be required reading in fact.
We made great strides electing Obama and now we have regressed almost to the Dark Ages with the Orangetang!
Agreed. But a crisis is typically a gift and a chance for growth. I think this crisis has forced upon the entire nation and the world a maturation. We are not the only ones affected. And our allies are not seeing us other than in a position they don’t want to be in which has doubled up their defense against the same thing happening to their country. Also, their support is so comforting much like the abused spouse knowing others believe you are the victim and will stand up for you and believe you — such is America today abused — but our allied nations the people are mirroring our protests and expressing no malice toward us. Did you read the letter to America from the Ambassador to Ukraine? There are so many examples they support us are watching and damned impressed we hit the streets as we have done. We are fighting for the world as much as our children here. I am honored to be in this time. The only thing we need to do is not loose faith, unite and do the work. There is much to be done. All hands on deck. America has grown up and the speed of growth is moving forward exponentially. We will prevail if we stay united and project courage not despair. Take a day off or a week — I took three weeks last winter. But then get busy. “I won’t be afraid just as long as you stand by me. Oh, stand by me.” www.indivisible
You are oh so more articulate and retrospective than I. Thank you for sharing …
Could you please share a link to Abigail Adams letter to John Adams?
The difference between 1770’s and 2020’s maybe that women are no longer asking just to be remembered by the male power brokers, we are asking all Americans to unite and turn around for the sake of our childrn, our country, and the future of our planet. We are standing TAULL (Turn Around Unite for Lasting Legacy).
Below is one letter Braintree March 31, 1776, ABIGAIL ADAMS to JOHN ADAMS which is the one Abigail uses the phrase so many have heard but have no knowledge of the context “Remember the ladies” and unfortunately I am blocked and unable to leave a link to the full archives inside the post you sent but google: “THE MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY (founded 1791) ADAMS FAMLIY PAPERS (an electronic archive)” for the full experience of all the letters she wrote to John Adams.
____________________________________
If I may comment, I am personally both inspired and anchored by Abigail Adam’s prescience in trying to sway her spouse John Adams to influence the writing of the Declaration of Independence. This was a woman of true genius. She handled everything while her spouse was running and hiding from the King with a bounty on his head to be hung if caught.
The founders of our nation never stayed in one place for very long for they were hunted. And none saw what they were doing as a career unlike today’s politicians who are still not counted out even if they are brain dead literally. The founding fathers yearned to be home “on their farm” but willing to die for freedom and an idea, which is democracy built on equality.
Abigail Adams could see women must play a part and share equally in the power men were afforded without question in building our new nation, which at that time was an idea (an experiment) that appealed to a society long separated from England by distance and already governing themselves.
I suspect she also saw that much of what needed to be done was beyond many men without the help of women. It was high time in her mind that women step away from being “the woman behind the man” and instead be seen as equal.
As a woman myself I understand and know as surely as I would have known if speaking with her that her motivation was not to yield power for the sake of power but to get the job done right for the sake of the children and those who come after — which is us. Women are collaborative and fierce. Why not give them the job of leadership?
The letter below is where Abigail Adams warned John Adams about the nature of men. What strikes me is if the founding fathers heard and then acted to make their women as equal as the female natives of this land were inside their tribes our lives would be different today for our nation would have grown in leaps and bounds to reach its full potential in serving the people.
Instead, the seeds of prejudice against women and so many classes of human beings were planted into the framework of our new nation and grew very deep roots that could have been pulled from the fertile ground with the great document our Declaration of Independence.
People today I suspect don’t even know why they reject the idea of a woman or anyone not white male in the position of leadership and power. It appears to me to be “yes” thoughtless, but for the most part a visceral response that is baked into our DNA.
It may sound trite, but I have observed when it comes to looking to a woman as a potential leader it rarely happens — and if it does not easily because men “hate” women in power and women “hate” women in power as well. If we recognized it, united and thought for ourselves, it would be a good thing for our futures and the wellbeing of our children.
More importantly, democracy cannot survive without equality. Equality is the key to a thriving democracy, as is maturity in the general population — not necessarily higher education maturation. We need adults on the ground and need to choose them for leaders not narcissists. Democracy will surely die on the vine if placed in the hands of a population that has not reached maturation in thought and deed.
And this nation’s growing diversity is our superpower. No matter how “different” we are from each other we share so much in common and have so much to learn from one another. To me our diversity is rich and much like a banquet laid out before us to enjoy. The different cultures and languages and histories rooted in shared values with all of us here living in America, and the willingness to die for our children.
Why would anyone reject such a jewel as is our diversity? Because the enemy (oligarchs, corporations, SCOTUS, politicians in the pocket of lobbyists and even other nations who interfere with our elections) will not benefit if we are united and treat each other equally. Pure and simple.
Trillions were invested to divide us, and it is rising again as we head into the elections. Mainstream media is at this time so blatantly using their platform to divide us once again. Have you noticed every other sentence has the word “communism” imbedded.
Why? Because the new strong, educated, experienced and passionate to serve our country are winning and doing so without any support from the one percent and lobbyists. And, in this country many don’t know the difference between a Democrat, Republican, Socialist, Communist, Trumpism or Democratic Socialist. We need to grow up. Do a google search accessible by the phone glued to your hand! Get educated!
But getting back to why is our enemy so focused on dividing us? They are afraid of one thing. They are afraid we will discover how magnificent we are in our diversity and how much we have in common. They are afraid we will see how magnificent we are and how much we have to offer each other.
I think it is empowering to know of their fear. It reveals their flank so let’s take aim. It also reveals why they spend so much time and money crafting how to divide us. Their deepest fear is uncovered by their very investment in dividing us. They are afraid and should be afraid of the power of a united people. Look to Ukraine! They have Putin on the run!
That is why we must unite and work to united. Calm down, be patient with each other for we are getting close and in fact our enemy is losing, and recognize we are being manipulated once again. Hold tight! Carry on!
But I do see rumblings on all the platforms and arguments started like a brush fire triggered by deliberate manipulation of the messages force fed us by mainstream corporate/oligarch owned media. Shut it down. Don’t take the click bait. The main focus is a united front. Walk away from any arguments and don’t engage in any that cross your path. Think of it as brush fires. The best way to kill a fire is give it no oxygen.
My best source for unbiased extraordinary worldwide coverage written by excellent and dedicated journalists under fire is THE KYIV INDEPENDENT out of Ukraine by the way. I recommend it.
As promised before I forget below is a quote from the letter and below that a link to the entire site. Enjoy reading it and then sit back and dream feeling a connection with our sister “Abigail Adams” who is still reaching out to us spanning 250 years. The words misspelled are not so much as they represent the manner of writing and spelling at the time.
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Braintree March 31, 1776, ABIGAIL ADAMS to JOHN ADAMS “I long to hear that you have declared an independency -- and by the way in the new Code of Laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make I desire you would Remember the Ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors.
Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies, we are determined to foment a Rebellion and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation.
That your Sex are Naturally Tyrannical is a Truth so thoroughly established as to admit of no dispute, but such of you as wish to be happy willingly give up the harsh title of Master for the more tender and endearing one of Friend. Why then, not put it out of the power of the vicious and the Lawless to use us with cruelty and indignity with impunity.
Men of Sense in all Ages abhor those customs which treat us only as the vassals of your Sex. Regard us then as Beings placed by providence under your protection and in imitation of the Supreme Being make use of that power only for our happiness.”
_____________________________________
Women by nature and necessity in order to survive and see to it their children thrive no matter deprivation, abuse and less acceptance or compensation in the work force are collaborative.
The demographics not holding “all the power” have incorporated into their very DNA coping skills not just for survival but “breakthrough” greatness — which when it occurs the world and mainstream media respond as if it is nothing short of an “anomaly” much like a “pig talking” not a human being fulfilling their full potential despite setbacks and the burden of prejudice.
Collaboration partnered with equality and diversity are the tickets to progress. Let us in, America! Open the door and shake off your visceral baked in prejudice which has left us and future generations with a stagnant pool of less than 50% of all of us for which we without blinking or discernment decade after decade hand over our democracy and great power.
They have shown themselves to be tyrants. Why does that surprise you? Own it and change it up so eligible and experienced candidates who are fully capable as well as have shown themselves to be focused on serving “we the people” and our children not oligarchs and corporations are standing by willing, ready and able to serve us, the people.
It is not hard. A short period of deep self-reflection will remove the chains of prejudice and in turn save the world. Let us in so we may share and lead in the incorporation of collaboration to get all the agenda items dispensed with quickly and then move on to even higher goals that will seed exponential growth to benefit the future of our children.
Equality is key. Diversity is our superpower. A people united hold formidable power. A power so great it can in short order reshape the future to serve the greater good and foster change that will speed up our democracy achieving nothing less than its full potential to serve us, the people and our children.
Is that Communism? Is that strictly Socialism? No? Anyone who believes it or more accurately are so gullibly swayed by corporate mainstream media into believing it are misinformed.
For in fact Democratic Socialist candidates coming forward with what are actually “old” ideas based in common sense and crafted to serve us, the long ill-served people and our children are far and away NOT strictly Socialism or Communism or a cabal of Russian agents.
And all those who will not look closer versus showing their collective ignorance should throw some cold water on their collective heads.
Then grab a towel, dry off and reflect on what you have done to date in your faux fear triggered by the pummeling of a manipulative mainstream media into seeing fellow Americans as a threat because they look different or are of a different gender, race, creed or background. Look at what you have done!
You have relinquished our democracy and opened the door to the most corrupt administration backed by SCOTUS that is taking and will take everything, everything including the futures of your children. Look at what you have done.
Then give yourself another ice bath and find out why choosing the best of the best of 100% of us makes you feel uncomfortable. I offer it is a baked in visceral response for most of you and the rest? Well, whatever it may have been has morphed into your conscience and is a vile choice called hate.
Not yet ready to take part in guiding our democracy from its current status on hospice onto a path of extraordinary heights in serving mankind which in turn serves everyone?
It’s truly okay for timing is everything in life. And if it is all too much for any of you to change your gnarly nature and rigidity in thought resulting is what is demonstrably a clear and present danger to our country’s future then stay where you are.
We wish you no harm but must now leave you stuck in your malformed position, which is damning the future of all children here and across the globe.
You may stay, of course, but please for the love of all that is good in the world take your inability to grow as a human being and move to the back row where you may listen, watch and learn. Thank you very much.
Done. Posted the letter in question and info on how to find the source in a post just sent to you. Let’s keep up the conversation. I am enjoying the chance to share thoughts and experiences.
I agree Ella and if you read my book, The Lodge Women, you will see that it is entirely due to their influence that the men in my family were elected.
It has always been so. Strong women influence the direction of the government, and there are more strong women alive today than ever! We just need to unite and get active. At the least, help your male friends and family members knock on doors, and all of us together help our conservative neighbors see the truth and the urgency of this moment! Our government has been overtaken by corruption.
I was “feeling this moment” of connecting with one of “The Lodge Women” here on substack so just for fun I looked up my common ancestor with Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. which led me to discover MANY generations of strong American women with many different last names! All of these strong American women ancestors have MANY MANY strong American women descendants alive now. We need to feel our common strength again right here and right now in USA! I am with you on climate. Without a livable climate for the future, and a livable society, all of our other rights don't matter. We need to unite, and we need to fight for our future together. Nothing stands in our way but criminals and corruption.
It is simple. We need stay united and then work to “dethrone” SCOTUS and then push Congress to do what we want to happen.
Read “THE DAY AFTER” written by Brian Tyler Cohen just published where it is laid out step by step what we need to get done when the current regime is packing and running, eating each other on the way, backs against a wall.
Everything is possible just thoroughly obstructed. We are the richest country in the world with unlimited resources and a magnificent diverse population grounded in shared values.
We are in charge, we the people. We must own that we have neglected our civic duties and were adrift in the atmosphere of fear and hate and division. But that is yesterday. We understand so much now for we lived it. We are learning when we unite stuff gets done. Like dominoes one victory after another around the nation in response to everyone getting out on the streets.
Technology has facilitated our revolution. But be forewarned it will get ugly and dividing us is our enemy’s only chance to regain the power they want to serve themselves not the greater good or our children. They will be putting up a good fight.
We cannot let our enemy divide us. Walk away from the skirmishes that will be building even amongst ourselves. They are like brush fires and the best response to a fire is to not give it oxygen.
And know our enemy never sleeps and are desperate. And remember they hide in the thick corporation/oligarch infused brush of mainstream media. Be careful what you consume in the news. Do not engage where there is argument and hate. That is the laboratory of our enemy run away from it.
Save yourself find us and unite for we need you. We need each other. Everyone has something to offer this cause. Find your tribe and show up. There is one truth above all which is it is only in uniting will we prevail and save this world for our children.
I agree. I have said the same thing for about 4 years now. Chris is always a measured voice and he deals in facts. I would definitely vote for him
I agree, Emily S Lodge. He is an upstanding Senator and human being.
He needs to stop his support of Israel!!!
Senator Murphy, thank you! Our first challenge is to put big money in its place! There must be a limit to how much money either party receives from Big money special interest and lobbyists!
As we used to say in the Sixties: Not “Tax the rich” … but “Eat the rich!”
In the sixties the COLA matched income. In this century the COLA does not match the income because the COLA has never been changed. And that is by design no accident.
Of course not. Those naughty Sixties! Peace, love, loud music, silly ideas about equality — must extinguish all hope. Dumb white men in control, that’s the ticket!
I hold no grudge against men. I do grieve, however, the baked-in visceral response to the idea anyone other than a man is not palatable in our society to hold power or a position of leadership. It is almost unconscious and knee jerk.
Prejudice seeded 250 years ago when our nation was founded despite the warning of an extraordinary woman who was facing the reality she, even after the signing of the Constitution, had no right to own land or vote.
My mother had no right to what we take for granted -- autonomy over her own body for one -- if a woman wanted any medical intervention that would give her control over her own health and future the doctor would first confer with her husband.
My mother was not allowed credit or a mortgage or a loan or a credit card. And her mother was not born with the right to vote. I lived as a young woman where it was legal to be told despite my education and eligibility for a job "we are not hiring women for that position". I lived in a time where when my aptitude test suggested an aptitude to study engineering was told that "there are no female engineers" spoken by an ignorant counselor who directed me to find a job as a secretary upon graduation.
Visceral and baked in which will make if very easy for outside interests to displace the rights of all of us — all of us — starting with the rights of immigrants to the rights of blacks which will follow to include the rights of women. That is our future if we don't unite and get out of our comfort zones and engage. It is so clear to me.
But, united and only united and in great numbers we hold the power to right this ship. No one is coming to save us. We are the "one" we have been waiting for, but equality is key and diversity is our superpower.
Now is the time. Now! Let's hurry up the turning of the tide. Engage! http://www.indivisible.com
I also had difficulty getting a job in a male only job. I paint pictures. I worked for myself for awhile painting album covers in San Francisco in the early 70’s. When my work didn’t pay enough to support my family as a single mother I went to shops that painted billboards. All men. Over and over I went to see if I could get a job there. He said no skeptical of my gender. He knew I could do the work, but repeatedly turned me down. The last time I went he hired me. Great news! A union job with good benefits and pay. I was ecstatic!
There was one bathroom and changing area. I tried it cautiously. It was too much so I went upstairs where there was a woman’s bathroom. I worked at getting along despite the cat calls and bad behavior.
For ten years I worked there until it I felt a pit in my stomach every morning when I arrived. It became unbearable for me to continue so I filed a claim of sexual harassment. It was difficult because I loved my job.
During my time there, I finished my BA degree so I could move on. I don’t regret my job there and liked most of the men that worked there, but wow it was hard working in a men’s environment.
I began teaching middle school which was quite the challenge but rewarding. Now retired I paint my own paintings and sell them in a nearby gallery. I don’t make a lot but it’s enough with social security and a pension.
Women had a tough time back then in a man’s world. Things are much better now. I worry for my grandchildren and how they will be able to buy a house and make enough to live on. For them that unequal pay is so much harder now. We need to raise the minimum wage and tax the rich as they did in the 70’s.
Hear, hear!
https://sharonlawrence.substack.com/p/elections-project-for-americas-future
read the above... see if that works
Thank you Senator. But first we need to tax the billionaires and trillionaires. That money would go a long way to get our Nation on her feet. At 77, retired teacher, I pay my fair share, but out is past time for the fat cats. Thanks for what you do and for working toward a more than minimum wage. We are proud to represent our state.
Both can be done at the same time.
Vote for Murphy for President
We’ll see about that in the primary.
We need a National Minimum Wage Law, is not possible to ask people to be good citizens when they just make 8 or 9 dollars per hour. Even 15 dollars means nothing, you are basically starving. This has to stop.
It should be automatically raised when the cost of living goes up. To neglect doing that in congress should be an impeachable offense, or a reason to launch a recall on any one in congress refusing to raise it.
I just finished reading your latest book "Crisis of the Common Good" and it impressed me so much that I have recommended my entire family and several friends read it! Thank you for your service!
Same
I bought an extra copy to donate to our library
Elect more Mamdani’s
across the USA!
Ditto that!!! But remember no one is coming to save us and no one person can do the job. To think so or seek it is the mindset of a servant to a King. We are the "one" we have been looking for in this crisis. You and me and all of us were naive to who our neighbors across the country were but have met on the streets and are emboldened by our magnificence when united. Don't look for a savior look to yourself, ourselves. It is us in fact who are in charge, but we have for the most part allowed ourselves to be divided -- never again!
Yeah no
This man must be the Senate leader. He is the real deal. And, a fighter and a good communicator.
President
OBTW increasing the Federal minimum wage to $25 per hour is an excellent first step too! This should alleviate those concerned about “socialism”, just pay Americans a living wage and let their American ingenuity do the rest!
Yup thanks for explaining what I've bern thing saying the last 50yrs when ever I can to anyone I can.
It is time to vote into office everywhere Democratic Socialists. Take a look at our European neighbors & see how well it has done for their Happy cared for citizens.who doesn't want a well functioning society, w good infrastructure healthy & educated peoples? AND a representative government that looks like the population?
51% women& a colorful group exactly representing the % of people as they are in our population?
Jesus , I'm so tires of waiting for sanity, I will probably doe before I see America be smart. ARRRGGHHHHH
Europeans also did one other thing.
They limited the number of private/chartered schools to only 2% max of all schools. This means there is no segregation between economic classes.
A poor student receives the same high quality education as a millionaires child.
A fact (if it is) widely known through our US MSM.
Perfect, hard to keep up w all the smart things in other countries. How about China,& its trains & cities that are taking care of climate response?
Can we dream?
Democrats in 2024: We want to tax billionaires more! And Enact price gouging laws!
Lose the White House and Both Chambers of Congress
Democrats in 2026: Let’s elect democratic socialists who want to dismantle capitalism and usher in public ownership of major industries!
Wow, democrats have seriously learned nothing. You will be annihilated if you do that lol
We already operate on the “Nordic model” of democratic socialism, and it’s far far superior - and accepted as long as it’s not spoken by name. In the American version, you’re pushing for the end of capitalism because it’s “evil” lol And it’s not. It pays for $3 trillion a year in programs to the poor. You really think your DoorDash driver is going to operate morally and competently?
Big no. Private ownership of business, strong welfare state = Nordic model. We’ve already got it. Just have to get back to regulating capitalism again.
This is awesome when it comes to huge corporations like Wal Mart, which can absolutely afford to pay their workers more. But for many small businesses, a $25 / hour minimum wage requirement would be unsustainable. Does the bill make exceptions for businesses under a certain size?
I think there shouldn’t be any exceptions for anyone or any business type. Farm labor, waitressing, etc. you have to remember that those businesses customers will have more money to spend, so if they are running a good business they can generate more revenue per employee and continue operating.
California raised its minimum wages for food workers and a bunch of chain restaurants caught against it saying that they could continue operating in those states because of it. None have left, most have expanded.
You have to remember that there are numerous states that still use the federal minimum wage of $7.25 / hour. If a small business—I don't mean a chain restaurant company; I mean an actual mom and pop business—had to go from that to $25/hour in one fell swoop, it could easily put them out of business before the effects of higher wages across the board kicked in. A phased approach might make more sense.
I haven’t seen the proposed legislation, but I would imagine it includes a phased rollout. You are correct that an immediate tripling of wages could be hard to deal with from a cash flow standpoint.
Great question! We surely don’t want to bankrupt “mom & pop”, start-ups and other small businesses, thereby allowing the Walmart behemoth’s further opportunity to dominate. I’m not savvy about tax codes to offer possible solutions raising minimum wage across the board. Our Capitalist system and complex tax codes would seem to severely limit simple solutions. That said, Senator Murphy, you have my full support working to close the egregious wage/earnings gap.
This can be done in conjunction with taxing the billionaires. The democrats are working on that. Refer to Mamdani. That balances the playing field.
Let’s get it done!!! Mamdani doctrine (raising taxes on rich to fund the less fortunate) working splendidly at the moment on the unique island of Manhattan. Time will tell if billionaire class pulls up stakes and moves on. Generally, the billionaire class writ large is either corrupt and/or savvy enough to game the system to grow their fortunes and grossly minimize their taxes. Call me skeptical. But please prove me wrong!
There’s been stories of millionaires and billionaires leaving manhattan due to taxes and other policies for at least the last 40 years. The number of each has only grown over time. There are some things that can only be had in a city like New York.
Tax the rich. Set an asset tax of 90% on all wealth above 1 billion. Set a tax penalty on corporations that pay their executives insanely high wages compared to the common worker. Make it so that they reinvest in growing the business and paying their employees a fair wage instead of just trying to extract the most profits possible.
You’ve got the symptoms right - the product of the economy has been shifted up relentlessly during the last 45 years (“the Reagan Dark Age of Trickle Up”). But while raising the minimum wage is a good first step, a lot more is needed: busting monopolies and controlling them much more strongly, price controls, taxing stock transactions, taxing non-wage income, constraints on investors buying stuff (like housing), make health insurance non-profit again, kill pharmacy benefit middlemen, control drug prices, and lots of stuff that I’m not smart enough to come up with.
But I’m heartened to hear a prominent Democrat talk about the disaster that trickle up has been. It is time for a political sea change back to a fundamental belief that strong government is a key part of the solution, not the problem, and that the free market is not the answer to everything.
Thank you for your dedication and support for the American people!! Keep up the fight!!
Hear me out. Some small employers would struggle to keep all of their employees at that level, BUT, rather than calling that a reason to not do it, the solution should be a national fund that supports small businesses so that they CAN pay their employees a living wage. Why should employees have to apply to the federal government for assistance to keep them out of poverty? Let legitimate local businesses get the support that they deserve, and in the process of applying for that support they should have to demonstrate that they are sharing the profits of their business much more equally!
A realistic minimum wage, like you suggest - and potentially Universal Basic Income plus child payments (and reform the confusing system we have now of various subsidies and welfare approaches), and a healthcare system free at the point of use - and it would look like much of Europe which has excellent quality of life and people happier with their lives than we see in surveys of the US.
Senator Murphy, You are the leader we need right now. I follow you regularly & I live in Montana, a red state that has a history of being purple. You have followers everywhere & I hope your movement gains momentum & speed as we race towards the Midterms. May you & your principles prevail!
I would really like to see a concrete plan, a working and living document, with actual bills that can and will be proposed, steps that can and will be taken, including ways for us, as voters, to track progress toward our shared goals. It seems too much of the Democratic response has been ‘strongly worded statements’, not substantive action.